Christmas Sugar Cookies
User Reviews
5
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Description
Christmas Sugar Cookies combine staple baking ingredients like flour, baking powder, and salt with softened butter and sugar creamed until fluffy. Egg yolks and vanilla add richness and flavor, while milk helps achieve a workable dough consistency. Chilled dough is rolled thin and cut into shapes before baking until edges show a subtle golden color. The frosting is a smooth mixture of cold butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, which can be tinted with food coloring to decorate the cookies with festive designs.
The cookies bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit on parchment or silicone mats, which helps maintain their shape and prevent sticking. Rolling the dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper assists in uniform thickness. Any scraps can be gathered and rerolled, chilling again if the dough softens excessively. The resulting cookies have a delicate crumb suitable for decorating or enjoying plain.
With a yield of around 48 cookies depending on cutter size, these sugar cookies work well for holiday celebrations or gift-giving. Their buttery flavor and frosting provide a traditional sweet treat that pairs nicely with milk or tea during festive occasions. Proper storage in an airtight container keeps them fresh for several days.
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks, see note 1)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup milk
For the frosting:
- 2/3 cup butter cold and firm
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk or cream, cold
- Food Coloring
Instructions
To make the cookie dough:
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed, or with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture and milk until just incorporated. Scrape dough on to a floured work surface, shape into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 2 days in advance.
To bake the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Roll chilled dough between parchment paper or wax paper to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with Christmas cookie cutters. Transfer to prepared baking sheets with an offset spatula.
- Repeat with the remaining dough. Scrape all remnants together and re-roll. If the dough becomes too soft or sticky, refrigerate an additional 10 minutes.
- Bake until the edges are lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes (if thicker than 1/8 inch, they may take 10 to 15 minutes). Transfer to wire racks and cool completely before decorating with frosting (recipe follows).
To make the frosting:
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on high speed, or with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together.
- Add vanilla and milk and beat until smooth. Add more milk as necessary to achieve the desired consistency for writing on cookies.
- Divide frosting into small portions and color each with food coloring as desired. Transfer to piping bags and decorate cooled cookies.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter softened about 30 minutes for easier creaming with sugar; soften quickly by microwaving at low power if needed.
- Chill the dough a minimum of 2 hours before rolling to help maintain cookie shape and ease cutting.
- Roll dough between parchment or wax paper to achieve even thickness and prevent sticking.
- Refrigerate dough again if it becomes too soft or sticky when rolling or cutting cookies.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, consuming within 4 days for best freshness.
- Yield depends on cookie cutter size; expect approximately 48 cookies with standard medium cutters.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 48cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 144 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 cookie | |
| Calories | 144kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 25mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 91mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 14mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 211IU | 4% |
| Calcium | 12mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
