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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- Flavor Infusion: Blend egg, vanilla essence, and almond extract into the butter-sugar mixture, stirring until thoroughly integrated and smooth.
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry components.
- 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.
- Chilling Technique: Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor development and make rolling easier.
- Shaping Process: Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to desired thickness, using festive cookie cutters to create classic Christmas shapes.
- 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.
- 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