Festive Merry Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe: Jolly Holiday Treats

Christmas baking brings pure joy during the holiday season, and these merry soft christmas cookies capture festive magic with delightful simplicity.

Sweet memories dance through every tender, pillowy bite of these classic treats.

Grandmothers and home bakers have perfected this beloved recipe over generations.

Warm spices and rich butter create an irresistible aroma that fills the kitchen with comfort.

Delicate yet sturdy, these cookies promise to become a treasured tradition at your holiday gatherings.

Each batch promises smiles, laughter, and the kind of sweet moments that make Christmas truly special.

You’ll want to share these delectable cookies with everyone you love.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 24

Soft Christmas Cookie Ingredient Rundown

• Butter: Provides rich, velvety texture and ensures tender cookies that melt in your mouth.
• Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps create a golden, crisp exterior with a soft center.

• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds moisture for a soft, cohesive cookie.
• Vanilla Extract: Delivers classic, warm sweetness with deep aromatic notes.
• Almond Extract: Optional ingredient that introduces a delicate, nutty background flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the classic cookie structure and provides the perfect tender crumb.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and achieve a light, airy texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor complexity.

Tools to Bake the Softest Holiday Cookies

• Stand or Hand Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, ensuring a light, fluffy texture.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining wet ingredients and creating the cookie dough.
• Separate Mixing Bowl: Use for whisking dry ingredients to ensure even distribution.
• Whisk: Crucial for blending flour, baking powder, and salt smoothly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements guarantee consistent cookie results.
• Baking Sheet: Needed for spreading and baking the soft Christmas cookies.
• Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Cooling Rack: Helps cookies cool evenly and maintain their delicate texture.

How to Make Soft Christmas Cookies Everyone Loves

• Whip Up the Butter Mixture

Grab your mixer and blend softened butter with sugar until it looks like a fluffy cloud, creating a creamy base that’ll make your cookies irresistible.

• Introduce Liquid

Crack an egg into the buttery mixture and splash in vanilla and almond extracts. Blend everything together until it’s smooth and dreamy.

• Create the Perfect Dough

In another bowl, quickly blend flour, baking powder, and salt. Gently fold these dry ingredients into your wet mixture, stirring until a soft, tender dough comes together. Don’t overmix – you want these cookies to be tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

• Shape and Chill

Roll the dough into a smooth ball, wrap it in plastic, and let it rest in the refrigerator for about an hour. This helps the flavors mingle and makes the dough easier to handle.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat the oven and line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the chilled dough and cut into festive shapes. Bake until the edges are lightly golden, filling your kitchen with a warm, sweet aroma.

• Cool and Decorate

Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Then get creative with frosting, sprinkles, or a dusting of powdered sugar to make them look as delightful as they taste.

Tricks for Extra Tender, Flavorful Holiday Cookies

• Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, but not melted, to create perfectly smooth and creamy cookie texture.
• Chill the dough for at least 1 hour before rolling to prevent spreading and help cookies maintain their beautiful shape during baking.
• Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, adding 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum to help maintain cookie structure and prevent crumbling.
• Experiment with different extract combinations like orange, peppermint, or maple to create unique seasonal cookie profiles that match your holiday mood.
• Replace egg with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or 1 mashed banana for a vegan-friendly version that still delivers soft, delightful cookies.

Serving Soft Cookies with a Festive Touch

• Festive Cookie Platter: Arrange these delightful Christmas cookies on a rustic wooden board with sprigs of fresh holly or pine for a stunning holiday presentation.
• Holiday Gift Idea: Package the cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons, perfect for sharing with neighbors, teachers, or office colleagues.
• Dessert Pairing: Serve these soft cookies alongside a warm mug of spiced hot chocolate or creamy eggnog for a cozy winter treat that brings instant comfort and joy.
• Decorative Touch: Dust the cookies with powdered sugar or add simple royal icing decorations to make them look extra special and festive for Christmas gatherings.

Store Holiday Cookies to Keep Them Fresh

• Store cookies in an airtight container, layering between wax paper sheets to prevent sticking. Seal tightly and refrigerate up to 5 days for maximum freshness.
• Wrap unbaked cookie dough in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bag. Freeze raw dough for 3 months, thawing overnight in refrigerator before baking for convenient preparation.
• Keep decorated cookies at cool room temperature in sealed container, away from direct sunlight. Enjoy within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture.
• Prepare cookie dough 2-3 days before baking, storing in refrigerator wrapped securely. Let dough sit at room temperature 15-20 minutes before shaping and baking for perfect consistency.

FAQs

• What extracts work best in these Christmas cookies?

Vanilla extract is essential, and almond extract adds a delightful subtle flavor. You can use either or both, depending on your taste preference.

• Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before baking. This helps develop richer flavors and makes the dough easier to handle.

• How do I ensure my cookies stay soft?

The key is not to overbake. Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are just slightly golden but the centers still look soft. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.

• Do I need any special equipment to make these cookies?

A hand mixer or stand mixer helps cream the butter and sugar perfectly, but you can also mix by hand with a whisk and wooden spoon if needed. A simple whisk works great for mixing dry ingredients.

Merry Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Classic Christmas sugar cookies showcase festive holiday cheer with rich buttery flavor and delicate frosted edges. Sprinkled decorations and sweet family memories complete this beloved seasonal treat that connects generations of bakers.

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Ingredients

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• 3 cups (750 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
• 23 tbsps meringue powder
• 46 tbsps (690 ml) water (adjust for consistency)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Holiday sprinkles
• Colored sugars
• Edible glitter

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Instructions

1. Creaming Station: Combine softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer to whip until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color.
2. Flavor Infusion: Blend egg, vanilla essence, and almond extract into the butter-sugar mixture, stirring until thoroughly integrated and smooth.
3. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry components.
4. Dough Formation: Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, folding gently with minimal stirring to prevent tough cookie texture. Mix until a cohesive, soft dough forms that can be easily handled.
5. Chilling Technique: Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor development and make rolling easier.
6. Shaping Process: Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to desired thickness, using festive cookie cutters to create classic Christmas shapes.
7. Baking Precision: Arrange cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, maintaining consistent spacing. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until edges turn delicately golden.
8. Cooling and Finishing: Transfer cookies to a wire rack, allowing them to cool completely before decorating with royal icing, sprinkles, or powdered sugar for a festive touch.

Notes

• Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature, not melted, for optimal creaming and a fluffy cookie texture.
• Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to prevent tough, dense cookies by minimizing gluten development.
• Extract Intensity Control: Adjust almond extract carefully; a little goes a long way in enhancing flavor without overwhelming the cookie’s delicate taste.
• Chill for Success: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies’ intended shape during baking.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 145
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 45 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg