Description
Festive Christmas shortbread cookies deliver sweet holiday cheer with minimal effort. Buttery, crumbly texture and simple preparation make these classic treats perfect for seasonal celebrations and sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Festive sprinkles (optional)
- Colored sugar (optional)
- Chocolate drizzle or icing (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a smooth surface for cookie placement.
- Butter Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and powdered sugar until light, fluffy, and smooth, blending for 2-3 minutes to achieve optimal texture.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold flour into the butter mixture, incorporating vanilla extract for enhanced flavor. Mix until a soft, uniform dough develops, being careful not to overmix.
- Cookie Shaping: Craft cookies by either rolling into 1-inch balls, gently flattening, or rolling to 1/4-inch thickness and using festive cookie cutters. Optional: Sprinkle colored sugar or decorative sprinkles on cookie surfaces for a festive touch.
- Baking Process: Arrange cookies on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading. Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as a doneness indicator.
- Cooling and Finishing: Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling. For an elegant finale, consider drizzling with chocolate or adding a light icing decoration.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted, sitting at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to achieve perfect creamy texture and smooth dough consistency.
- Gentle Flour Incorporation: Mix flour gently and minimally to prevent tough cookies, stopping just when the dough comes together to maintain the signature delicate shortbread crumb.
- Chill for Precision: Refrigerate dough for 15-20 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie edges, especially when using intricate cookie cutters for festive designs.
- Customize with Confidence: Experiment with flavor variations like adding ground nuts, citrus zest, or swapping vanilla extract with almond or peppermint extract to personalize the classic shortbread recipe while keeping the core technique intact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg