Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for Christmas Butter Cookies that are perfect for holiday baking! These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies can be shaped into festive designs and decorated with sprinkles, icing, or colored sugar to add a fun holiday touch.
Christmas Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional for extra flavor)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Colored sprinkles, sugar, or icing for decorating (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer for this step.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer for this step.
- Add the Egg and Extracts:
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Continue to mix until the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough forms. You may need to use your hands toward the end to bring everything together into a smooth dough.
- Chill the Dough (Optional, but Recommended):
- To make rolling the dough easier, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This step helps the dough firm up and makes the cookies less likely to spread while baking.
- Roll and Cut Out Shapes:
- Once the dough is chilled, lightly flour a clean surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out festive shapes, such as stars, trees, snowflakes, or bells.
- Once the dough is chilled, lightly flour a clean surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out festive shapes, such as stars, trees, snowflakes, or bells.
- Place on Baking Sheets:
- Carefully transfer the cookie shapes to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. If you’d like, you can press colored sugar or sprinkles gently onto the cookies at this stage.
- Bake:
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them, as baking times can vary depending on the size and thickness of the cookies.
- Cool:
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate (Optional):
- Once the cookies have cooled, you can decorate them with icing, sprinkles, or colored sugar. Royal icing or simple buttercream works great for adding festive details like snowflakes, holly, or even little gingerbread people!
Tips:
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 days or freeze it for up to a month. Just be sure to let it soften a bit before rolling it out.
- Decoration Ideas: Try using royal icing for detailed decorations, or sprinkle colored sugar on the dough before baking for a simple but pretty effect.
- Flavor Variations: Add a teaspoon of lemon zest or orange zest to the dough for a citrusy twist, or try swapping the vanilla extract with peppermint extract for a festive flavor.
Storage:
- Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze them for longer storage. These cookies freeze well, so you can make a big batch and save some for later!
These Christmas Butter Cookies are a wonderful treat for holiday gatherings, gift-giving, or just enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa by the fire. Enjoy! 🎄🍪
