Jolly Christmas Butter Cookies Recipe: Sweet Holiday Delight

Butter melts effortlessly into these delightful christmas butter cookies that dance with festive cheer.

Every bite whispers sweet memories of holiday traditions.

Generations have cherished this classic treat passed down through kitchens filled with warmth and laughter.

Simple ingredients blend into delicate, melt-in-your-mouth perfection that captures the magic of the season.

Crisp edges and soft centers promise a delectable experience for anyone seeking seasonal comfort.

These cookies bring joy with their golden, buttery charm and subtle sweetness.

You’ll find yourself reaching for just one more of these irresistible holiday delights that connect us to cherished moments of celebration.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 122 kcal

Servings: 23

Ingredients For Christmas Butter Cookies

• Butter: Soft and rich foundation that creates tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture; choose high-quality unsalted butter for pure, clean flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides delicate sweetness and helps create smooth, silky cookie consistency; sift to prevent lumps.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth and enhances overall cookie flavor; use pure extract for best results.

• All-Purpose Flour: Structural backbone of cookies providing perfect crumbly texture; use fresh, sifted flour for lightest results.
• Salt: Subtle flavor enhancer that balances sweetness and intensifies overall taste profile.

• Holiday Sprinkles: Festive color burst that transforms simple cookies into celebratory treats; choose seasonal colors.
• Colored Sugar: Adds sparkly, crunchy dimension and visual appeal; select complementary holiday shades.
• Royal Icing: Optional elegant finishing touch for intricate designs; makes cookies look professionally decorated.
• Melted Chocolate: Luxurious drizzle option for extra indulgence; use high-quality chocolate for best flavor.

Cookie Tools For Christmas Butter Cookies

• Stand mixer or electric hand mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy perfection.
• Large mixing bowl: Needed for combining ingredients smoothly.
• Baking sheets: Crucial for baking cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper or silicone mats: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements guarantee consistent results.
• Cookie cutters: Optional for creating festive holiday shapes.
• Piping bag with star tip: Great for making decorative rosettes and swirls.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Spatula: Useful for scraping bowl and transferring dough.
• Small offset spatula or knife: Helpful for decorating with icing or chocolate.

How To Whip Up Christmas Butter Cookies

• Oven Preparation

Warm up your oven to create the perfect baking environment. Create a cozy baking landscape by lining your baking sheets with smooth parchment paper.

• Butter Bliss

Combine softened butter with powdered sugar in a spacious mixing bowl. Whip the mixture until it transforms into a cloud-like, fluffy texture that looks like delicate winter frost.

• Flavor Infusion

Introduce vanilla extract to your mixture, allowing its rich aroma to dance through the dough and create a warm, inviting scent.

• Dough Creation

Gently fold in flour and a whisper of salt, mixing until a soft, pillowy dough emerges. The mixture should feel like a tender winter dream.

• Cookie Transformation

Choose your cookie adventure: drop dollops of dough onto the baking sheet, roll out and cut festive shapes, or pipe elegant swirls using a star-tipped pastry bag. Each method tells a different holiday story.

• Festive Flourish

Sprinkle magical holiday decorations across the cookies. Let your creativity shine like twinkling Christmas lights.

• Baking Moment

Slide your cookie masterpieces into the warm oven. Watch as they turn golden and fill your kitchen with irresistible holiday cheer. Once edges become delicately bronzed, remove and let them rest briefly before transferring to a cooling rack.

Baking Tips For Perfect Christmas Butter Cookies

• Perfect Butter Cookie Tricks
• Butter Temperature Magic: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, creamy consistency that creates tender cookies.
• Sifting Flour Secret: Always sift flour to remove lumps and create lighter, more delicate cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
• Chilling Dough Technique: Refrigerate rolled cookie dough for 15-30 minutes before cutting to prevent spreading and maintain precise shapes during baking.
• Decoration Pro Tip: Use food-safe paintbrushes or toothpicks for intricate icing details and precise sprinkle placement for professional-looking Christmas cookies.
• Diet-Friendly Variations: Swap wheat flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version; replace butter with coconut oil for dairy-free alternative; use almond flour for low-carb option.

Ways To Present Christmas Butter Cookies For The Holidays

• Festive Cookie Platter: Arrange the Christmas butter cookies on a beautiful wooden board, mixing different shapes and sizes for a visually stunning display that screams holiday cheer.
• Sweet Gift Packaging: Pack the cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons, creating adorable homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or holiday party hosts.
• Holiday Dessert Companion: Serve alongside hot cocoa, mulled wine, or eggnog for a delightful seasonal treat that brings warmth and joy to family gatherings and cozy evenings.
• Dessert Table Star: Create a cookie tower by stacking different shaped Christmas butter cookies, using royal icing or melted chocolate to add elegant decorative touches that will impress guests.

Keep Christmas Butter Cookies Fresh All Week

• Smart Cookie Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Freezing Friendly: Wrap cooled cookies individually in plastic wrap, then store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for soft, delicious treats.
• Dough Prep Trick: Refrigerate raw cookie dough for up to 3 days or freeze for 2 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a sealed freezer bag to maintain freshness.
• Holiday Baking Batch Strategy: Prepare multiple batches ahead of time, storing baked cookies in festive tins or gift-ready containers. This saves time during busy holiday seasons and allows for easy sharing with friends and family.

Festive Christmas Butter Cookies Recipe

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

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Description

Delightful Christmas Butter Cookies blend traditional Danish holiday sweetness with simple ingredients. Quick-to-prepare treats offer delicate crumbles and festive charm you can enjoy with family and friends.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (100 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• holiday sprinkles
• colored sugar
• royal icing (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 350F (175C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal non-stick performance.
2. Creaming Process: Whip butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl until achieving a light, fluffy consistency with a pale, smooth appearance, blending for approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Flavor Integration: Incorporate vanilla extract thoroughly, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough for a consistent aromatic profile.
4. Dry Ingredient Merger: Sift flour and salt into the creamy base, gently folding with minimal mixing to preserve the delicate cookie texture and prevent toughness.
5. Shaping Techniques: Select your preferred cookie formation – drop method using rounded tablespoons, rolled approach after 30-minute chilling, or piping technique with a star-tipped bag to create elegant rosettes directly on the baking surface.
6. Festive Embellishment: Adorn cookie surfaces with holiday sprinkles, colored sugar, or decorative elements to enhance the Christmas aesthetic and visual appeal.
7. Baking and Cooling: Bake until cookie edges turn a delicate golden brown, approximately 10-12 minutes. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
8. Final Flourish: Once cooled, elevate the presentation by drizzling with royal icing or melted chocolate, adding a sophisticated and celebratory finishing touch to your Christmas confections.

Notes

• Butter Temperature Mastery: Ensure butter is softened but not melted, sitting at room temperature for perfect creamy consistency and smooth mixing.
• Mixing Technique Precision: Cream butter and sugar slowly to incorporate air, creating a light, tender cookie texture without overbeating or developing tough gluten.
• Flour Handling Secrets: Sift flour to remove lumps and prevent dense cookies, gently folding to maintain a delicate crumb and avoid tough, compact results.
• Decorating Versatility: Experiment with different piping techniques, sprinkle variations, and chocolate drizzles to personalize cookies for different dietary preferences or festive themes.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 122
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 36 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 31 mg