Description
These Soft Christmas Cookies are a delightful holiday treat bursting with sweet vanilla and almond flavors. Featuring a tender, cakey texture and topped with a classic powdered sugar glaze, these cookies are perfect for festive celebrations. Easy to make and yielding 48 servings, they are an ideal recipe to share with family and friends during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 4 tablespoons milk
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the cookies.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures the leavening is evenly distributed.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix until fully combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with the 4 tablespoons of milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir just until combined to avoid overmixing.
- Shape the Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add food coloring if desired.
- Decorate: Drizzle or dip the cooled cookies in the glaze and sprinkle with festive sprinkles if using. Allow glaze to set before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender and soft.
- If the dough feels too sticky, chill it for 30 minutes before baking.
- You can customize the glaze colors with different food coloring for a festive variety.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to one week.
