The BEST Christmas Cookies EVER (and How to Decorate Them)
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Cooling time
35 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
24 cookies
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Calories
217 kcal
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Course
Baked Goods
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Cuisine
American
The BEST Christmas Cookies EVER (and How to Decorate Them)
Description
This Christmas cookie recipe mixes flour and cornstarch with cold butter to create a tender dough with a fine crumb. Sweetened with sugar and enhanced with vanilla and almond extracts, the dough is kneaded and rolled between parchment papers to a consistent thickness. It is then cut into holiday shapes and baked at 350 degrees F, producing cookies with little rise and a soft, crumbly texture.
The cookies' firm but tender texture allows for detailed decoration with royal icing, which hardens to showcase intricate designs. Alternatively, cream cheese frosting offers a thick, creamy finish for those more interested in flavor than detailed decoration.
These cookies freeze well for up to a month and are best eaten chilled. Removing from the freezer before serving to reach a cool temperature preserves their texture. This recipe supports festive baking projects compatible with various decorating techniques.
Links to royal icing and flood icing recipes provide guidance on creating ideal icings for decorating these cookies. Adjusting hydration slightly can help accommodate altitude or desired dough consistency.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter (1 cup = 2 sticks) keep the butter COLD until ready to use
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- royal icing see recipe links below
- Sprinkles Christmas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Cut COLD butter into cubes (they don't need to be perfect) and add to the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large mixing bowl if you are using a hand mixer). Add sugar and mix together until smooth and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed.
- Add 1 egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and mix until well combined. Add the flour/cornstarch mixture in and mix on low speed until crumbles form (if you are at a higher elevation and the crumbles seem a little too dry you can add a tablespoon or two of water, not too much though, you want it to be crumbly, not sticky).
- Remove crumbles from mixer and knead into a ball.
- Place between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out to about 3/8-1/2" thickness (however thick you want the cookies to be is how thick you want to roll it out-- these cookies aren't going to rise very much, if at all).
- Use Christmas cookie cutters to cut shapes out of the dough.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool COMPLETELY before icing with royal icing or cream cheese frosting, (see links below for icing/frosting recipes)
Notes
- Use royal icing for detailed, hard-drying decorations or cream cheese frosting for thick, creamy topping.
- Store cookies in the freezer for up to one month; eat them chilled for best texture.
- If the dough is too dry due to altitude, add a small amount of water to achieve crumbly but workable consistency.
- The cookies do not rise much when baked, so roll to desired thickness as final thickness determines cookie thickness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 217 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 217kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 31g | 10% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 27mg | 9% |
| Sodium | 137mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 25mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 16g | 32% |
| Vitamin A | 245IU | 5% |
| Calcium | 6mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.8mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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