These Elf-Themed Sugar Cookies Are the Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer
Updated: Oct. 29, 2020Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Buddy the Elf cookies are about to make the holidays WAY more fun.
Sure, it’s fun to get out the cookie cutters, whip up a batch of sugar cookies from scratch and spend an afternoon decorating them. We can’t think of a better group project with family or friends. But if you’re someone who enjoys baking cookies without all the prep and cleanup, Pillsbury’s ready-to-bake cookies are for you. You know—the squishy tubes of cookie dough in your supermarket’s refrigerated case?
These seasonal premade sugar cookies are a delight every holiday season, and this year the line-up is even sweeter with Elf sugar cookies—Buddy the Elf, to be precise!
It’s This Holiday Season’s Cutest Cookie
Elf fans will remember that Will Ferrell’s character, Buddy, wears a green and yellow outfit. He’s decidedly out of place in New York, but Buddy’s outfit, along with his upbeat personality, gave him a place in plenty of fans’ hearts. It’s only natural that Pillsbury decided to honor the character by featuring his adorable green and yellow hat on the sugar cookies. Too cute!
Each box contains 20 pre-cut cookies for the ultimate convenience. And if you want more variety, there are plenty of other Christmas-themed styles available. The full selection includes Christmas trees, snowmen, reindeer and more. (But if that’s not your thing, we won’t discourage you from trying our adorable elf cookie recipe.)
Where Can I Buy Elf Sugar Cookies?
The good news is that these Pillsbury ready-to-bake cookies are readily available at most retailers, as well as online at Walmart, Target and Instacart. Pick up a pack or two—they only cost about $2.50—and while you’re at it, put some Elf coffee creamer in your cart too. And if you really want to take this theme to the next level, there’s also a Buddy the Elf Frappuccino coming down the chimney at Starbucks.
More Festive Slice 'n' Bake Cookies
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Pinwheels and Checkerboards
My mom used to make these cookies every Christmas, and I still love them. They are so colorful...and you can get two kinds of cookies from one dough! They're perfect for including in gift boxes.—Jill Heatwole, Pittsville, Maryland
Cinnamon Bun Cookies
I love cinnamon rolls, but working with yeast can be scary. These cookies give you the taste of a cinnamon roll in cookie form—no yeast required! They look like flattened cinnamon rolls and feel special enough to serve around the holidays. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois
Orange Pistachio Cookies
I had never tried pistachios until I visited a friend who served me these cookies. I was in love! I made the recipe my own, and now my family can't get enough of them. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Semisweet Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
Chocolate and vanilla provide a delightful contrast in their flavor and appearance. —Nancy Arevalo, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Honey-Lime Almond Cookies
Decades ago my grandmother passed this buttery lime cookie recipe to me. Through years of baking, our cookie memories keep the family connected, although we’re miles apart. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
Cherry Pinwheel Cookies
A crisp, light textured cookie with a mild cherry flavor will add great color to your holiday cookie tray.—Jenn Reagan, Maple Valley, Washington
Glazed Candied Fruit Cookies
Even if your family doesn't care for fruitcake, they'll love these festive cookies studded with candied fruit and pecans. A caramel glaze adds a delectable touch on top. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Cherry Pistachio Cookies
Dried cherries, crunchy nuts, bits of orange, white chocolate—there's a lot to love in this cookie! It's very different from any I've had before. —Kathy Harding, Richmond, Missouri
Apricot Pinwheels
I decorate my little spirals with vanilla icing, but they're yummy without it, too. Dried apricots and lots of spice give the cookies Old World flavor. —Beverly Sadergaski, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Lemon Slice Sugar Cookies
Here's a refreshing variation of my grandmother's sugar cookie recipe. Lemon pudding mix and icing add a subtle tartness that tingles your taste buds. —Melissa Turkington, Camano Island, Washington
Snickerdoodle Crisps
This classic cookie from New England can be made two ways: soft or crunchy. My happy version with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg is crispy to perfection. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cinnamon-Candy Cookies
I was trying to make a unique Christmas cookie inspired by my brother's love of red-hots. I used the candies in these lace-like cookies for cinnamon flavor. —Wendy Rusch, Cameron, Wisconsin
Grandma Krause's Coconut Cookies
When my two daughters were young, their great-grandma made them coconut cookies with oats. Thankfully, she shared the recipe. —Debra Dorn, Dunnellon, Florida
Gingerbread Peppermint Pinwheels
Two holiday flavors—gingerbread and peppermint—come together in these impressive pinwheel cookies. I created the recipe especially for my husband, who loves the combination. —Joanna Quelch, Burlington, Vermont
Slice & Bake Coconut Shortbread Cookies
Light and buttery, these delicate shortbread cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. The coconut flavor makes them extra special. —Roberta Otto, Duluth, Minnesota
Nanny's Fruitcake Cookies
My grandmother always made a holiday fruitcake. I turned her recipe into cookies that are perfect anytime, especially with a cup of tea. —Amanda Digges, South Windsor, Connecticut
Ginger & Maple Macadamia Nut Cookies
This spiced cookie has a real kick of ginger, similar to traditional German lebkuchen. If you don’t have crystallized ginger, use colored sprinkles. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
Chocolate Orange Checkerboard Cookies
I use these for gifts during the holidays because I like the elegant flavor combination of chocolate and orange. The shortbread texture melts in your mouth, and the walnuts add a nice crunch.—Sandy Paige, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Bite-Size Cinnamon Roll Cookies
If you love cinnamon rolls and spiced cookies, make a bite-sized version that combines the best of both worlds. Genius! — Jasmine Sheth, New York, New York
Easy Candied Fruit Cookies
Family and friends always want me to make these for Christmas, so I make lots of them. They're easy to handle and store and also make nice gifts. —Nan Bush, Morganton, North Carolina
Pistachio Cream Cheese Cookies
My son-in-law is a big fan of pistachios. He looks forward to these buttery cookies at holiday time, but I make them for him more than just once a year. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Chocolate Orange Rounds
I send these chocolate orange cookies to family and friends in other areas of the country. The two-tone treats deliver a citrusy taste of the Sunshine State. —Geordyth Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Lime Shortbread with Dried Cherries
This fresh, sweet-tart cookie also works with dried cranberries and orange zest. I freeze the dough for up to a month. —Abigail Bostwick, Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Any Holiday Sprinkle Cookies
You can roll this cookie dough in any colored sugar to suit any holiday. I use red and green for Christmas, pastel colors for Easter and green for St. Patrick's Day. After rolling dough in sugar, the logs can be frozen for up to 2 months. Let logs thaw out slightly before slicing. They're easier to slice if very firm.—Lynn Merendino, Marysville, Pennsylvania
Sinterklaas Cookies
After opening our gifts on Christmas Eve as children, we would make these cookies for Santa Claus to snack on with his glass of milk. The crisp spice cookies are delicious dipped in that milk—or in your coffee on Christmas morning. —Charli Fontana, Pella, Iowa
Lemon Shortbread Trees
Here's a fun holiday recipe children can help with. And no cookie cutters are needed! I just shape the dough into a triangular log, refrigerate it and cut it into tree-shaped slices to bake and decorate. Broken pretzel sticks form the tree trunks. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
Coconut Slice & Bake Cookies
Tinting flaky white coconut reminds me of snowflakes falling under holiday lights. The reds and greens add colorful Christmas wonder. — Lee Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin
Apricot Raisin Rugelach
Rugelach is a classic addition to holiday trays. The flaky, buttery pastry slices encase a spiced fruit and walnut filling. —Laurie Klett, Hamilton, Michigan
Chocolate-Nut Pinwheel Cookies
As a little girl, I made these with my mother every Christmas. Now I make them every year with my daughters-in-law, daughters and grandchildren!—Sedonie Zeitler, Luxemburg, Wisconsin
Homemade Chocolate Shortbread
This recipe has been in my files for a long time...probably from when I first learned to bake. Any chocolate lover will like these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. I make them year-round with variations. They're even richer with a thin coat of icing or as a sandwich cookie with frosting in the middle. —Sarah Bueckert, Austin, Manitoba
Italian Spumoni Cookies
These festive cookies look and taste like they're made from scratch. But refrigerated cookie dough makes them a cinch to create. They go hand-in-hand with our other easy Christmas recipes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Lemon & Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
Lemon and rosemary make these luscious treats a sweet surprise for a few friends. —Malorie Harris, Wildomar, California
Chocolate-Swirled Peanut Butter Cookies
Our kids’ most-requested cookies are peanut butter and chocolate chip, so I created this combination. The two doughs swirled together create a marbled pattern that’s so pretty, the cookies don’t need additional decorations! This is the best chocolate-peanut butter cookie you'll make! —Lori Kesinger, Baker, Montana
Orange Poppy Seed Cookies
My friend Sandy and I have gotten together for years to bake Christmas cookies. One year we made 16 different kinds in a day. I like this cookie because the orange flavor makes a nice change of pace from all the classic holiday cookies. —Kathy Jessen, Sarasota, Florida
Red & Green Pinwheels
My mom used to make these cookies every Christmas, and I still love them. They are so colorful. You can use different food coloring for different seasons.—Jill Heatwole, Pittsville, Maryland
Pistachio Buttons
This cookie recipe makes a big batch, which comes in handy during the holidays. The green center adds a festive touch. —Nella Parker, Hersey, Michigan
Frosted Eggnog Cookies
Eggnog stars in both the cookie and frosting in this new-found recipe, imparting a subtle holiday flavor.—Amanda Taylor, Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan
Cranberry Nut Swirls
This recipe originated with my sister-in-law. It gets used a lot over the holidays when we want to pull a fast one on the guys in our family. They claim they don't like cranberries in any shape or form, but everyone enjoys these. —Carla Hodenfield, Ray, North Dakota
Slice & Bake Orange Spice Wafers
These thin and crispy cookies stack well, making them a great gift to give. Ginger and orange complement the sweet and spicy flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cran-Orange Icebox Cookies
These are a favorite cookie of my family around Christmas. The cran-orange flavor makes them special. —Nancy Rollag, Kewaskum, Wisconsin
Mango Fudge Refrigerator Ribbon Cookies
I’ve always thought that a ribbon cookie is especially nice. Although it’s a single cookie, it really seems like two or three different cookies because of its lovely layers of flavor. These refrigerated ribbon cookies have a rich chocolate layer balanced by a bright orange-mango layer—a very special combination. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Anise Icebox Cookies
These crisp, old-fashioned spice cookies are one of my favorite anise recipes to cook up—especially around the holidays. —Sharon Nichols, Brookings, South Dakota
Chocolate Mint Delights
I tuck a chocolate-covered peppermint patty into every one of these rich cookies. The drizzle on top adds a nice touch. I revised a brownie recipe to create these take-along treats. —Heather Sandberg, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Lemon Meltaways
Both the cookie and the frosting are spiked with lemon in these melt-in-your-mouth goodies. Your family won't be able to get enough of this lemon butter meltaway cookie recipe. —Mary Houchin, Lebanon, Illinois
Chocolate Coconut Neapolitans
These yummy striped cookies with a chocolaty twist are easy and fun to make, but they do need some time in the freezer. —Lena Marie Brownell, Rockland, Massachusetts
Double Delights
You get the best of both worlds with these chocolate and vanilla cookies. They're an appealing addition to any cookie tray. I usually serve them at the holidays, when they're often the first cookies to disappear, but you can have them any time of year. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
Cherry-Pecan Icebox Cookies
During the holiday season, I keep a roll of dough for these crisp cookies in the freezer. It's nice to offer unexpected company a home-baked treat. —Betye Dalton, Tupelo, Oklahoma
Chocolate Mint Creams
This recipe came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone's cookie request list. I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri
Raspberry Ribbons
I make these attractive, buttery cookies to serve at our remote guest lodge, and all the cooks in the kitchen are addicted to them! —Patsy Wolfenden, Golden, British Columbia
Date-Nut Pinwheels
Pinwheel cookies with dates and walnuts are a family treasure. There are a few steps when prepping, so I sometimes freeze the dough and bake the cookies later. —Frieda Whiteley, Lisbon, Connecticut
Peppermint Candy Cookies
Taking a cue from Star Mints, I created a buttery cookie with a holiday look. This one melts in your mouth faster than its candy cousin. —Gloria McKenzie, Panama City, Florida
Ginger Thins
I like to serve these special treats with lemon curd or lemon sherbet, either of which it complements the ginger flavor. —Eleanor Senske, Rock Island, Illinois
Cappuccino Flats
These coffee-flavored cookies are so delicious they make my own kitchen seen like a gourmet bakery!
Lemon Poppy Seed Slices
My mom taught me to bake, and I use lots of recipes from her abundant collection, including this one for lemon cookies. —Pauline Piraino, Bay Shore, New York
Caramel Swirls
In my opinion, cookies are the best dessert to make...and to eat! With a crisp outside and chewy caramel filling, these are likely one of my very favorites. —Jan Smith, Star, TexasPopular Videos
Originally Published: October 20, 2020
