Description
Christmas butter cookies are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth treats that are perfect for the holiday season. Decorated with colorful sprinkles, icing, or sugar, these classic cookies are fun to make and a joy to eat.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (100 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract for variation)
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For decoration:
- Holiday sprinkles
- Colored sugar
- Royal icing (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Cream the butter and sugar:
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
- Add the vanilla:
- Mix in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Incorporate the dry ingredients:
- Gradually add the sifted flour and salt to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Shape the cookies:
- For drop cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass.
- For rolled cookies: Chill the dough for 30 minutes, then roll it out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into shapes using holiday cookie cutters.
- For piped cookies: Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe shapes like rosettes or swirls directly onto the baking sheet.
- Decorate:
- Add holiday sprinkles, colored sugar, or other decorations before baking.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional icing decoration:
- Once the cookies are cooled, decorate with royal icing or drizzle melted chocolate for a festive touch.
Notes
- To enhance flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Double the recipe for larger batches to share with family and friends!