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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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)
Instructions
- Preparation: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 350F (175C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal non-stick performance.
- 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.
- Flavor Integration: Incorporate vanilla extract thoroughly, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough for a consistent aromatic profile.
- 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.
- 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.
- Festive Embellishment: Adorn cookie surfaces with holiday sprinkles, colored sugar, or decorative elements to enhance the Christmas aesthetic and visual appeal.
- 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.
- 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