Remember those iconic blue tins filled with butter cookies? These homemade Christmas butter cookies are even better – tender, buttery, and rolled in festive red and green sugar. They literally melt in your mouth, and the best part? You only need 7 simple ingredients and 18 minutes to make a batch that’ll disappear faster than you can say “Santa.”
Why This Christmas Butter Cookie Recipe Works
The holiday season evokes a sense of warmth, joy, and anticipation. It’s a time for family gatherings, festive decorations, and, of course, an abundance of delicious treats. Among the myriad of holiday desserts, Christmas cookies hold a special place in our hearts. The aroma of freshly baked cookies, the intricate decorations, and the delightful flavors all contribute to the magic of the season.
As a child, I eagerly awaited the arrival of those iconic blue tins filled with an assortment of Christmas butter cookies. The simple yet satisfying taste of these cookies, paired with a cup of hot cocoa, created memories that I cherish to this day. Now, as an adult, I’m excited to share my own recipe for Christmas butter cookies, a recipe that’s sure to become a beloved holiday tradition in your home.
What Makes Butter Cookies Different from Sugar Cookies and Shortbread
While butter cookies, sugar cookies, and shortbread cookies may seem similar, they each have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Understanding these differences can help you choose the perfect cookie for your holiday baking.
Shortbread Cookies: These cookies have a high ratio of flour to butter, resulting in a crumbly texture. They are typically baked at a low temperature and are known for their simple, buttery flavor.
Butter Cookies: Butter cookies, as the name suggests, are rich in butter. They also contain a good amount of sugar and flour, which gives them a sturdy structure that’s ideal for rolling and cutting into festive shapes.
Sugar Cookies: Sugar cookies have the highest proportion of flour, making them perfect for decorating with icing and sprinkles. They hold their shape well and provide a blank canvas for your creative designs.
How to Store and Freeze Christmas Butter Cookies
Good news: these cookies store beautifully, which makes them perfect for getting ahead on your holiday baking. Here’s what you need to know:
Room Temperature Storage:
Once completely cooled, store your butter cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. I like to place a piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. They’ll stay soft and tender the entire time – if they last that long in your house!
Freezing Baked Cookies:
These freeze like a dream. Layer them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers, and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve them, just let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes. They taste just as fresh as the day you baked them.
Freezing Cookie Dough:
Want to really get ahead? You can freeze the dough balls before baking. Roll them in the colored sugar, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid (about an hour). Then transfer them to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, you can bake them straight from frozen – just add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Gift-Giving Tip:
These cookies are perfect for holiday gift boxes or cookie trays. Package them in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbon, or layer them in a decorative tin. They travel well and keep their shape beautifully, which is always a win when you’re delivering to friends and neighbors.
The fact that you can make these ahead takes so much stress out of holiday baking. I usually make a double batch in early December and freeze half, so I always have homemade cookies ready when unexpected guests stop by – or when I need a midnight cookie fix.
Pro Tips for Perfect Butter Cookies Every Time
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Room temperature butter and eggs will mix more evenly into the dough, resulting in a lighter and more tender cookie.
Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the dough can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookies. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Chill the Dough (Optional): If the dough is too soft, you can chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour before rolling and baking.
Experiment with Flavors: While vanilla extract is a classic choice, you can experiment with other flavors like almond extract, peppermint extract, or citrus zest.
Decorate Creatively: Get creative with your decorations! Use different colored sugars, sprinkles, or even edible glitter to make your cookies sparkle.
Baking Memories and Holiday Cheer
Baking Christmas cookies is more than just a culinary activity; it’s a way to create lasting memories and spread holiday cheer. Whether you’re baking with family, friends, or enjoying a quiet afternoon in the kitchen, the process of mixing, rolling, and baking these delightful treats is sure to fill your home with warmth and joy. So, gather your loved ones, preheat your oven, and get ready to experience the magic of Christmas butter cookies.
Commonly Asked Questions
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these butter cookies stay fresh for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.
Make sure your butter is softened (not melted) and your dough isn’t too warm. If the dough feels too soft, chill it for 15-30 minutes before baking.
es! If using salted butter, reduce the added salt to just a pinch.
Absolutely! Roll them in regular granulated sugar, or skip the sugar coating entirely for a classic butter cookie.
Similar Recipes
If you like Christmas cookie recipes like this, you will enjoy the ones below:
- Shortbread Pecan Cookies
- Buttery Shortbread Cookies
- The Best Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Christmas Butter Cookies (Melt-in-Your-Mouth Easy!)
- Total Time: 18 mins
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
These Christmas butter cookies are impossibly tender and melt in your mouth! Roll them in festive colored sugar for a cookie that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfect for holiday cookie trays, gift-giving, and making memories in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. Baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 c. red coarse sugar
- 1/2 c. green coarse sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 Degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Pour the course sugars into two separate small bowls and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter with a handheld mixer or stand mixer. Add the sugar and mix until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the cream mixture 1 cup at a time. Once the mixture has combined together as a ball of dough.Use a cookie scoop and scoop dough and roll into a smooth ball. Roll the dough in sugar and place on the baking sheet. Use the back of a measuring cup and flatten the cookies slightly. Do not completely flatten the dough, just to the size of a hockey puck about ¼ inch.
- Bake for 8 minutes and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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