Celebrate the festive season with these Soft Christmas Cookies, perfect for decorating, gifting, and enjoying with loved ones. These cookies strike the ideal balance between sweetness and softness, making them an excellent canvas for all your decorative inspirations. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a newcomer to the kitchen, these cookies are sure to spread holiday cheer with their delightful flavor and tender texture.
Delightfully Soft and Perfectly Sweet
Soft Christmas Cookies are a holiday staple that invite you to unleash your creativity with frostings and sprinkles. Their mild vanilla flavor complements a variety of decorations, from simple sugar dustings to elaborate icing designs, making them as much fun to decorate as they are to eat.
Baking Tips for the Best Soft Christmas Cookies
- Consistency in Ingredients: Ensure all ingredients, especially butter and eggs, are at room temperature to achieve a smooth, even dough.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerating the dough not only makes it easier to handle but also helps prevent spreading, ensuring the cookies maintain their shape while baking.
- Gentle Rolling: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking without adding too much flour, which can toughen the cookies.
- Watch the Oven: Bake the cookies just until they are set. They should not brown if you want them to stay soft.
- Cooling Process: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set before moving them to a wire rack. This prevents them from breaking.
Recipe for Soft Christmas Cookies
- Preparation time: 20 minutes (plus chilling)
- Cooking time: 8-10 minutes per batch
- Serving: Makes about 24 cookies
- Equipment: Mixing bowls, baking sheets, rolling pin, cookie cutters, wire rack
Ingredients:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Frosting and sprinkles for decorating
Directions:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, stirring until the dough forms.
- Chill: Divide the dough into two disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll and Cut: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with Christmas cookie cutters.
- Bake: Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes or until set.
- Cool and Decorate: Allow to cool slightly on the sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Celebrate With Sweetness
Once decorated, these Soft Christmas Cookies are not only a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. Arrange them on a festive platter, pack them up as thoughtful homemade gifts, or serve them at your holiday party. No matter how you share them, these cookies are bound to bring smiles and a sprinkle of holiday magic to your celebrations.
