Soft Christmas Cookies: A Festive Delight for Every Celebration Recipe
There is something incredibly heartwarming about sharing homemade treats during the holidays, and these Soft Christmas Cookies: A Festive Delight for Every Celebration Recipe truly capture that magic. Imagine biting into irresistibly tender, lightly sweet cookies that melt in your mouth, topped with colorful icing that instantly brightens your festive table. This recipe is all about celebrating traditions with loved ones, bringing ease and joy to your kitchen while delivering a delicious centerpiece for every holiday gathering. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, these soft Christmas cookies offer that perfect combination of flavor, fun, and festive cheer that everyone will adore.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are wonderfully simple yet crucial for creating those perfectly soft, tender cookies with just the right hint of sweetness and a divine buttery aroma. Each one plays a key role in crafting the ideal texture, flavor balance, and that classic holiday appearance you want to see on your dessert plate.
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour: Provides the structure for the cookie, making them soft and sturdy enough to hold their shape.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: Helps the cookies rise slightly, ensuring they stay tender and fluffy.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness perfectly.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: Adds richness and moisture, essential for that classic soft texture.
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps with slight caramelization on the edges.
- 2 large eggs: Bind the dough together and give it a delicate, cake-like softness.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Infuse the cookies with that warm, inviting aroma we associate with holiday baking.
- ½ teaspoon almond extract: Adds a subtle nutty note that elevates the flavor beautifully.
- 4 tablespoons milk: Makes the dough easier to work with and keeps the cookies moist.
- 2 cups powdered sugar (for icing): Creates the sweet, silky glaze to decorate your festive cookies.
- 4 tablespoons milk (for icing): Thins the icing for perfect spreadability or piping consistency.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing): Adds extra flavor depth to the decorative glaze.
- Food coloring and sprinkles (optional): Bring your cookies to life with bright colors and festive adornments.
How to Make Soft Christmas Cookies: A Festive Delight for Every Celebration Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures your rising agent and salt are evenly distributed for perfectly soft cookies.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial to incorporate air, which contributes to the soft, tender crumb in every bite.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Extracts
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and almond extracts. These ingredients infuse the dough with layers of warm, inviting flavors that make these cookies truly special and holiday-ready.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk to maintain a soft, pliable dough. If your dough feels too sticky, pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes; this helps make rolling easier and keeps your cookie shapes sharp.
Step 5: Roll Out and Cut Shapes
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thick. Use your favorite festive cookie cutters to create shapes like stars, trees, or ornaments. Place these shapes onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake your cookies for 6 to 8 minutes, just until the edges are lightly golden. Don’t overbake — these cookies should stay soft and tender. Let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. This step keeps them from becoming too crisp.
Step 7: Prepare and Decorate with Icing
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth to make your icing. Add food coloring if desired for colorful decorations. Spread or pipe the icing onto cooled cookies, and sprinkle festive toppings for that final holiday touch.
How to Serve Soft Christmas Cookies: A Festive Delight for Every Celebration Recipe
Garnishes
Simple garnishes like rainbow or holiday-themed sprinkles, crushed peppermint candies, or edible glitter can transform your cookies into eye-catching treats. These add subtle texture and a delightful crunch to the soft, melt-in-your-mouth base.
Side Dishes
Pair your soft Christmas cookies with warm drinks like spiced hot cocoa, mulled wine, or cinnamon tea. These flavorful beverages complement the sweetness and enhance the overall festive experience for everyone gathered around.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve these cookies on a decorative holiday platter lined with fresh evergreen sprigs or cranberries to bring nature’s beauty indoors. You can also stack them in clear jars tied with seasonal ribbons for delightful gifts or charming party favors your guests will love.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your soft Christmas cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their tender texture. Layer them between parchment paper to prevent sticking and keep them fresh for up to a week—perfect for savoring with a cup of tea over several days.
Freezing
If you want to get a head start on your holiday baking, these cookies freeze beautifully. Freeze unbaked cutouts on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. You can also freeze fully decorated cookies, though simple icing tends to hold up best.
Reheating
To soften chilled cookies, warm them slightly in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or in a low oven wrapped in foil for a few minutes. This gentle reheating brings back that freshly baked softness that makes these cookies so comforting.
FAQs
Can I use a different extract instead of almond extract?
Absolutely! You can substitute almond extract with an equal amount of orange or lemon extract for a citrusy twist, or simply leave it out if you prefer more classic vanilla flavors.
How do I keep my cookies soft instead of crunchy?
Make sure not to overbake your cookies; pulling them from the oven as soon as the edges are lightly golden helps retain moisture. Storing them in airtight containers with a slice of bread also helps keep them soft overnight.
What are some fun decorating ideas for kids?
Let the kids choose their food coloring and sprinkles for the icing. Using piping bags or simple spoons to spread colored icing can turn decorating into a festive activity they’ll love.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend in a 1:1 ratio. Just be mindful that texture might vary slightly but they will still be delicious.
How long do these cookies last?
Stored properly in an airtight container, these soft Christmas cookies stay fresh for about a week. For longer storage, freezing is your best option to keep that fresh-baked taste.
Final Thoughts
Soft Christmas Cookies: A Festive Delight for Every Celebration Recipe is truly a treasure to add to your holiday baking repertoire. They bring not just sweetness but warmth, cheer, and a touch of magic to any festive occasion. I wholeheartedly encourage you to try this recipe—you’ll find it’s as much a joy to make as it is to share, creating memories and smiles that last long after the last crumb is gone.
Print
Soft Christmas Cookies: A Festive Delight for Every Celebration Recipe
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 48 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Soft Christmas Cookies are a festive and tender treat perfect for holiday celebrations. With a delicate balance of vanilla and almond extracts, these cookies offer a melt-in-your-mouth texture topped with colorful icing and sprinkles to bring joy and sparkle to your festive gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 4 tablespoons milk
For the Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your dough.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs, then add the vanilla and almond extracts, mixing well to combine all flavors thoroughly.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. If the dough feels too sticky to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm it up.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and place cookies spaced on lined baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly baked while remaining soft inside.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare the Icing: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add food coloring if desired to create festive hues.
- Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the icing over each cookie and top with sprinkles as desired for a festive touch.
Notes
- For less sticky dough, chill before rolling out to make cutting shapes easier.
- Ensure cookies are fully cooled before applying icing to prevent melting.
- Customize your icing colors and decorations to fit your holiday theme.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a appropriate gluten-free blend.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
