Description

These Soft Christmas Cookies are a delightful holiday treat with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Made with classic ingredients like butter, sugar, and vanilla, these cookies are perfect for decorating with festive colored icing and sprinkles. Ideal for sharing at holiday parties or gifting to loved ones, they offer a soft and buttery bite complemented by a sweet, creamy glaze.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
4 tablespoons milk

For the Icing

2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, ensuring everything is well combined.
Combine with Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined to maintain a soft dough.
Shape Cookies: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-13 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft.
Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare Icing: In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth and add food coloring if desired.
Decorate: Once cookies are completely cool, spread icing over the tops and decorate with sprinkles if using. Allow the icing to set before serving or storing.

Notes

Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for best creaming results.
Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender.
Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
Use gel food coloring for vibrant icing colors without affecting consistency.
For a festive twist, try adding cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.