Description
These classic Christmas Butter Cookies are tender, buttery, and perfectly sweet, making them an ideal treat for the holiday season. With a subtle vanilla flavor and a crisp edge, these cookies hold their shape well, allowing you to decorate them beautifully with colored sugar or festive sprinkles. Easy to prepare and perfect for sharing, they’re a delightful addition to any holiday cookie platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Butter Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Decoration
- Colored sugar or holiday sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until the dough becomes smooth and fully combined, ensuring an even flavor throughout.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to distribute the leavening agents evenly.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until the dough comes together to avoid overworking which can toughen the cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two portions; wrap each in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This step helps the dough firm up for easier rolling and better shape retention during baking.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer them to prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Decorate: Sprinkle colored sugar or holiday sprinkles on top of each cookie before baking to add festive flair and texture.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or decorating further.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract to the dough for a delightful almond accent.
- These cookies hold their shape exceptionally well, making them perfect for detailed decorating, including royal icing.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- For longer storage, freeze the cookies in an airtight container for several months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, European-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
