Enjoy some Christmas Butter Cookies that are chewy and will melt in your mouth. Covered with coarse sugar colored in festive Christmas colors.
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.
The Difference Between Butter Cookies, Sugar Cookies, and Shortbread Cookies
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.
My Christmas Butter Cookie Recipe: A Family Favorite
This Christmas butter cookie recipe is incredibly easy to follow and yields cookies that are both tender and flavorful. The dough comes together quickly, and the simple decorating technique adds a festive touch without requiring any special skills.
Tips for the Perfect Christmas Butter Cookies
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
Absolutely! The dough can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or frozen for longer. Baked cookies can also be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.
Using room temperature ingredients and not overmixing the dough helps. Chilling the dough for a short time before baking can also prevent spreading.
While you can use margarine, butter provides a richer flavor and better texture for these cookies.
Yes, this dough works well for cut-out cookies. Just make sure to chill the dough before rolling and cutting to prevent spreading.
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
- Total Time: 18 mins
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
Enjoy some Christmas Butter Cookies that are chewy and will melt in your mouth. Covered with coarse sugar colored in festive Christmas colors.
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
Leave a Reply