Christmas Cookies
Classic buttery Christmas cookies perfect for decorating and sharing during the holiday season. These sugar cookies are soft, tender, and ideal for cutting into festive shapes.
Servings: 24
Adjust the serving amount to scale the ingredient list. Written quantities in the steps refer to the original recipe; adjust them in the same proportion. Timing may vary with batch size.
Prep: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2.75 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon almond extract optional
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined.
- Divide dough in half, shape into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
- Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Decorate as desired with icing, sprinkles, or colored sugar once completely cooled.
Notes
Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Undecorated dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.