Description
Festive Christmas Shortbread Cookies shine with buttery simplicity and holiday cheer. Crisp, melt-in-mouth delights invite warm gatherings where you savor sweet memories of seasonal joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
Flavor Enhancer:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Decorations:
- Festive sprinkles
- Colored sugar
- Chocolate drizzle or icing
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by warming the oven to 350F (175C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring an even surface for cookie placement.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture transforms into a light, airy, and creamy consistency, which typically requires 2-3 minutes of vigorous mixing.
- Gradually introduce the flour into the butter mixture, gently folding and blending until a cohesive, soft dough emerges. If desired, incorporate the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor profile.
- Craft the cookie shapes by either rolling the dough into delicate 1-inch spheres or gently flattening them for a classic shortbread appearance. Alternatively, roll the dough to a slim 1/4-inch thickness and utilize festive cookie cutters to create whimsical holiday-themed shapes.
- For an optional decorative touch, sprinkle colored sugar or press delicate sprinkles onto the cookie surfaces, adding a playful and festive dimension.
- Arrange the formed cookies on the prepared baking sheets, maintaining approximately 1 inch of space between each cookie to allow for gentle spreading during baking. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for the edges to develop a subtle golden hue.
- Once removed from the oven, allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly. Carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to reach complete room temperature. For an extra indulgent finish, consider drizzling with chocolate or adorning with a delicate icing.
Notes
- Keep butter at room temperature for easier creaming, ensuring a smoother, more uniform cookie texture.
- Use powdered sugar for a more delicate, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread that’s less grainy than granulated sugar.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie edges during baking.
- Experiment with flavor variations by adding orange zest, lavender, or finely chopped nuts to the basic recipe for a unique twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg