Description
These Soft Christmas Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring a tender, buttery texture and festive decorations. Perfectly sweetened and lightly flavored with vanilla and optional almond extract, these cookies bake up soft and chewy, ideal for gifting, holiday cookie swaps, or enjoying with a cup of tea or cocoa.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 3 tablespoons milk
Decorations and Frosting (Optional)
- Red and green sprinkles or colored sugar for decorating
- Frosting: 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- Food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color, which incorporates air for a tender crumb.
- Add Wet Flavorings: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, ensuring all ingredients are fully combined for balanced flavor.
- Incorporate Milk: Mix in the milk to the wet ingredients for moisture and a smoother dough consistency.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until incorporated to avoid overmixing which can toughen the cookies.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls, then place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow spreading.
- Flatten and Decorate: Slightly flatten each dough ball using the bottom of a glass or your hand, then add red and green sprinkles or colored sugar for a festive touch, if desired.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set but not browned, to ensure a soft texture.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional Frosting and Decoration: If desired, prepare frosting by mixing powdered sugar with milk and food coloring. Once cookies are fully cooled, frost and add additional festive sprinkles.
Notes
- To keep cookies extra soft, avoid overbaking and remove from the oven as soon as edges are set.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking helps prevent excessive spreading.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- These cookies are ideal for holiday gifting or cookie swaps due to their festive appearance and soft texture.
