Description
These Christmas Shortbread Cookies are buttery, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth perfect for the holiday season. Made with simple ingredients like butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour, these cookies are easy to prepare, chilled, rolled, cut into festive shapes, and baked until just golden. Optional sprinkles add a cheerful finishing touch, making them ideal for holiday parties, gift-giving, or cozy evenings with a cup of tea.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional Toppings
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and confectioners sugar together until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and well combined. Add the vanilla extract and mix until evenly incorporated.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat until the dough forms a cohesive ball.
- Chill the dough: Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up the dough, which makes it easier to roll and cut.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Roll and cut dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the chilled cookie dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out festive shapes. Gather any scraps, reroll, and continue cutting until all dough is used.
- Transfer cookies to baking sheet: Use a spatula to carefully lift and place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow even baking.
- Add sprinkles: If desired, gently press sprinkles into the top of each cookie to ensure they stick and add a festive ornamental touch.
- Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes, or until the edges and bottoms are lightly golden brown, indicating the perfect level of doneness.
- Cool cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes to firm up before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Storage: Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to maintain freshness.
- Make ahead: The dough can be prepared and refrigerated up to 1 week in advance before rolling and baking.
- Freezing: For longer-term storage, freeze the dough tightly wrapped or in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
