You can adapt this simple, sweet holiday cookie recipe to include a wide array of ingredients for a festive treat that will be the hit of your cookie exchange. Learn how to make icebox cookies at home. 

Icebox Cookies Recipe: How to Make Icebox Cookies

Icebox cookies, also known as “refrigerator cookies,” are an old-fashioned type of [sugar cookie](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/holiday-sugar-cookies-recipe) made by chilling a dough made of flour, butter, sugar, baking soda, and [vanilla extract](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vanilla-paste-vs-extract), then baking it. You can make these cookies by molding the dough into long logs, slicing into rounds, and baking to chewy, golden-brown perfection. 

Part of the process for making icebox cookies involves chilling the dough in the fridge, which means that you can make it in advance and store it in the refrigerator for easy last-minute dessert preparation. 

Make the most of these classic, shortbread-like cookies by following these helpful tips and suggestions: 

1. __Avoid overmixing the batter__. When making icebox cookie dough, mix the ingredients until the batter has just formed. Overmixing can result in tough cookies and a batter that is difficult to handle. 
2. __Measure your flour carefully__. Using too much or too little flour in this basic cookie dough recipe could result in dry, crumbly cookies or dough that is too soft to be workable. Take extra care to spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off at the top to make sure you’re using the proper amount. 
3. __Make the dessert in advance__. You can make the dough for this icebox cookie recipe up to a week before a Christmas party, bake sale, or dinner. Simply form the dough logs, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and store them in the refrigerator for up to seven days. When you’re ready to bake, simply slice the cookies and place them in the oven. 
4. __Experiment with additions__. You can easily adapt this sugar cookie recipe to suit many different palates. Add peppermint, orange, lemon, or almond extract to create a different flavor profile, or mix in chocolatey ingredients like [cocoa powder](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-cocoa-culinary-uses-of-cocoa-powder), mini chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate. Add peanut butter for easy peanut butter cookies. Incorporate chopped nuts, like hazelnuts or pecans, into your dough for a nuttier confection, or mix in crushed pretzels for a sweet-and-savory combination. Decorate the cookies with colorful sprinkles or a drizzle of [icing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/frosting-vs-icing) for some festive flair. 

You can adapt this simple, sweet holiday cookie recipe to include a wide array of ingredients for a festive treat that will be the hit of your cookie exchange. Learn how to make icebox cookies at home. 

Icebox cookies, also known as “refrigerator cookies,” are an old-fashioned type of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/holiday-sugar-cookies-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/holiday-sugar-cookies-recipe","linkCopy":"sugar cookie","category":null}'>sugar cookie</a> made by chilling a dough made of flour, butter, sugar, baking soda, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vanilla-paste-vs-extract' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vanilla-paste-vs-extract","linkCopy":"vanilla extract","category":null}'>vanilla extract</a>, then baking it. You can make these cookies by molding the dough into long logs, slicing into rounds, and baking to chewy, golden-brown perfection. Part of the process for making icebox cookies involves chilling the dough in the fridge, which means that you can make it in advance and store it in the refrigerator for easy last-minute dessert preparation.

What Are Icebox Cookies?

Make the most of these classic, shortbread-like cookies by following these helpful tips and suggestions: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Avoid overmixing the batter. When making icebox cookie dough, mix the ingredients until the batter has just formed. Overmixing can result in tough cookies and a batter that is difficult to handle. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Measure your flour carefully. Using too much or too little flour in this basic cookie dough recipe could result in dry, crumbly cookies or dough that is too soft to be workable. Take extra care to spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off at the top to make sure you’re using the proper amount. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Make the dessert in advance. You can make the dough for this icebox cookie recipe up to a week before a Christmas party, bake sale, or dinner. Simply form the dough logs, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and store them in the refrigerator for up to seven days. When you’re ready to bake, simply slice the cookies and place them in the oven. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Experiment with additions. You can easily adapt this sugar cookie recipe to suit many different palates. Add peppermint, orange, lemon, or almond extract to create a different flavor profile, or mix in chocolatey ingredients like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-cocoa-culinary-uses-of-cocoa-powder' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-cocoa-culinary-uses-of-cocoa-powder","linkCopy":"cocoa powder","category":null}'>cocoa powder</a>, mini chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate. Add peanut butter for easy peanut butter cookies. Incorporate chopped nuts, like hazelnuts or pecans, into your dough for a nuttier confection, or mix in crushed pretzels for a sweet-and-savory combination. Decorate the cookies with colorful sprinkles or a drizzle of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/frosting-vs-icing' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/frosting-vs-icing","linkCopy":"icing","category":null}'>icing</a> for some festive flair. </li></ol>

4 Tips for Making Icebox Cookies

Simple Icebox Cookies Recipe

You can adapt this simple, sweet holiday cookie recipe to include a wide array of ingredients for a festive treat that will be the hit of your cookie exchange. Learn how to make icebox cookies at home.

You can adapt this simple, sweet holiday cookie recipe to include a wide array of ingredients for a festive treat that will be the hit of your cookie exchange. Learn how to make icebox cookies at home. 
