Description
These classic Christmas Butter Cookies are rich, buttery, and perfect for holiday celebrations. Soft and tender, they can be decorated with festive sprinkles, colored sugar, or royal icing, making them a delightful treat for family and friends during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
Decoration
- Holiday sprinkles, colored sugar, or royal icing for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Flavors and Egg: Incorporate the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) into the creamed mixture; mix well until combined evenly.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms without overworking.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into discs, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up for easier rolling.
- Preheat the Oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature while you roll out the dough.
- Roll and Cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into festive shapes, and transfer them carefully onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn a light golden brown.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to slightly firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once fully cooled, decorate the cookies with holiday sprinkles, colored sugar, or pipe on royal icing as desired to add festive flair.
Notes
- Make sure butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading during baking.
- Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Decorate cookies only after they are completely cooled to prevent icing from melting.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to one week.
