Simple Joy: Heavenly Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe for Family Fun

Sweet memories of childhood holidays come flooding back with this irresistible soft christmas cookies recipe that melts in your mouth.

Delicate and tender, these cookies capture the essence of festive cheer.

Butter-rich dough infused with warm spices creates a comforting treat everyone adores.

Each bite brings a whisper of nostalgia and pure joy.

Decorated with colorful frosting and sprinkles, these cookies transform ordinary moments into magical celebrations.

The aroma of freshly baked cookies will draw everyone to the kitchen.

Gather your ingredients and let the holiday baking begin—these soft christmas cookies promise to become your new favorite seasonal tradition.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 23

Everything In Best Soft Christmas Cookies

• Butter: Creamy foundation that adds rich flavor and tender texture, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best results.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a delicate, crisp cookie structure.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture, select fresh large eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor depth, opt for pure extract over artificial versions.
• Almond Extract: Optional flavor booster that introduces subtle nutty undertones.

• All-Purpose Flour: Primary structural component, sift to remove lumps and ensure smooth dough.
• Baking Powder: Leavening agent that helps cookies rise and maintain a soft, airy texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor profile.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, glossy icing with perfect spreadable consistency.
• Meringue Powder: Stabilizes icing and provides glossy, professional-looking finish.
• Water: Adjusts icing thickness, add gradually for precise texture control.
• Food Coloring: Allows festive customization of cookie decorations.
• Sprinkles, Colored Sugars, Edible Glitter: Optional decorative elements for visual appeal.

Kitchen Must-Haves For Best Soft Christmas Cookies

• Mixer (hand or stand): Essential for creaming butter and sugar, blending wet ingredients smoothly.
• Large mixing bowls: Needed for combining dry and wet ingredients separately.
• Whisk: Perfect for evenly mixing dry ingredients and creating royal icing.
• Rolling pin: Crucial for rolling out cookie dough to uniform thickness.
• Cookie cutters: Necessary for creating festive Christmas cookie shapes.
• Baking sheets: Used for baking cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy removal.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool completely without getting soggy.
• Piping bags (optional): Great for decorating cookies with precise icing details.
• Spatula: Helpful for scraping and transferring dough.

Step-By-Step For Best Soft Christmas Cookies

• Butter and Sugar Harmony

Grab a big mixing bowl and let your butter and sugar dance together until they transform into a fluffy cloud of deliciousness. The magic happens when they blend into a light, creamy mixture that promises delectable cookies.

• Wet Ingredients Welcome

Introduce an egg and splash of vanilla to your butter mixture. Gently fold these flavor boosters into the creamy base, creating a smooth, fragrant foundation for your Christmas treats.

• Dry Ingredient Blend

In a separate bowl, whisper together flour, baking powder, and a hint of salt. Gradually marry these dry ingredients with your wet mixture, stirring until a soft, tender dough emerges.

• Dough Relaxation

Split your dough into two friendly discs, wrap them in plastic, and let them chill in the refrigerator. This cool-down period allows the flavors to mingle and the dough to become perfectly manageable.

• Cookie Transformation

Warm up your oven and dust your workspace with a light flour sprinkle. Roll out the chilled dough and use festive cookie cutters to create holiday shapes. Carefully transfer these delicate cutouts onto baking sheets.

• Golden Baking Magic

Slide your cookie shapes into the oven and watch them turn a soft, golden color. After a brief cooling moment on the baking sheet, transfer them to a wire rack where they’ll become crisp and beautiful.

• Festive Decoration

Once cooled, transform your cookies into holiday masterpieces. Drizzle with colorful icing, sprinkle with glittery sugar, and let your creativity shine. Allow the decorations to set and become a sweet celebration of the season.

Smart Ideas For Best Soft Christmas Cookies

• Soft Christmas Cookie Secrets
• Butter Temperature Trick: Ensure butter is genuinely softened at room temperature, not melted or too cold, to guarantee perfectly tender cookies with ideal texture and consistent mixing.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate, or freeze cut-out shapes for spontaneous baking moments during busy holiday seasons.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum to maintain cookie structure and enjoy delicious treats for those with dietary restrictions.
• Flavor Adventure: Experiment with different extract combinations like orange, peppermint, or maple to create unique cookie profiles that surprise and delight family and friends during festive gatherings.
• Decoration Pro Tips: Use squeeze bottles for precise icing application, work with room temperature royal icing, and let each icing layer dry completely before adding intricate details to achieve professional-looking decorated Christmas cookies.

Plating Tips For Best Soft Christmas Cookies

• Holiday Cookie Platter Magic: Arrange these soft Christmas cookies on a festive wooden board with sprigs of fresh rosemary and powdered sugar dusting to create a stunning holiday display.
• Sweet Gift Packaging: Wrap small stacks of cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons, perfect for homemade holiday gifts that show personal warmth and care.
• Dessert Pairing Perfection: Serve these cookies alongside warm mulled wine, hot chocolate, or creamy eggnog to enhance the cozy Christmas flavor experience and create delightful taste combinations.
• Family Decorating Party: Invite kids and adults to join a cookie decorating session where everyone can personalize their own cookies with unique icing designs, turning baking into a fun, memorable family tradition.

Storage Advice For Best Soft Christmas Cookies

• Cooling Countdown: Let cookies cool completely on wire racks before storing to prevent moisture buildup and maintain crisp texture.
• Layering Technique: Separate cookie layers with parchment paper when stacking in airtight containers to prevent decorations from smudging or sticking together.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Decorated cookies with royal icing can be stored at room temperature for up to 7 days in sealed containers, keeping them fresh and visually appealing.
• Freezing Wisdom: Undecorated cookie dough or baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months – wrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in freezer-safe containers to lock in flavor and prevent freezer burn.

Festive Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe

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4.5 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

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Description

Irresistible Christmas sugar cookies blend classic holiday flavors with tender textures. Festive ingredients and simple techniques create memorable treats for family gatherings and seasonal celebrations.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cups (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2.3 tbsps meringue powder
• 4.6 tbsps water (adjust for consistency)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
• Holiday sprinkles
• Colored sugars
• Edible glitter
• Food coloring (optional)

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Instructions

1. Butter Preparation: Cream softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, creating a smooth foundational mixture.
2. Wet Ingredient Integration: Blend eggs and extracts into the butter mixture, ensuring thorough and even incorporation of flavors.
3. Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, then gradually fold into the wet ingredients to form a uniform, tender dough.
4. Dough Chilling: Divide dough into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least one hour to enhance texture and flavor development.
5. Oven Preparation: Heat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie baking.
6. Dough Rolling: On a flour-dusted surface, roll chilled dough to a quarter-inch thickness, creating an even base for cookie cutting.
7. Cookie Shaping: Use festive cookie cutters to create intricate shapes, carefully transferring cutouts to prepared baking sheets with precise spacing.
8. Baking Process: Bake cookies until edges turn golden, approximately 8-10 minutes, achieving a delicate crisp texture.
9. Cooling Method: Transfer cookies from baking sheet to cooling rack, allowing complete temperature equilibration.
10. Royal Icing Creation: Whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder, gradually adding water to develop a smooth, pipeable icing consistency.
11. Decorative Finishing: Adorn cooled cookies with artistic icing designs, incorporating vibrant colors, sprinkles, and festive embellishments.
12. Final Setting: Allow decorated cookies to dry completely, typically 2-3 hours, before serving or storing these delightful Christmas treats.

Notes

• Butter Blending Technique: Ensure butter is at room temperature for optimal mixing, creating a light and fluffy base that guarantees soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
• Chilling Dough Importance: Never skip refrigeration; cold dough prevents spreading and helps cookies maintain intricate cut-out shapes during baking.
• Flour Handling Tip: Avoid over-mixing after adding dry ingredients to prevent tough, dense cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined for tender texture.
• Icing Perfection Trick: Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent icing from melting and ensure crisp, professional-looking designs.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg