The holiday season is the perfect time to take a break from your hectic routine and enjoy some much-needed quality time with your family. And what better way to celebrate than by baking up some delicious, easy-to-make cookies?
From classic sugar cookies to decadent chocolate chip, there are plenty of recipes that will delight everyone in your home this festive season.
This blog post provides an extensive list of the best Christmas cookie recipes you can make from scratch. These recipes include step-by-step instructions, ingredient lists, and tips for making sure you get the perfect batch every time.
Whether you’re looking for something traditional or something a little more modern, you’ll find it all here! So grab your mixing bowls and let’s get baking.
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Christmas Cookies
Holiday cookies are a classic part of the Christmas season. The best holiday cookies are baked with love, and each recipe has its own special meaning. Whether you’re looking for a classic cookie recipe or something new and festive, there’s sure to be a cookie that will bring holiday cheer to your home.
What You Need to Make Christmas Cookies
While there are countless recipes and variations, most Christmas cookies share a few key ingredients, including:
- Granulated sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Flour
Types of Christmas Cookies and How to Make Them
Sugar Cookies
Making sugar cookies is a holiday tradition that many families enjoy. These cookies are diverse and can be made in any shape or size, making them perfect for decorating. And, of course, they taste delicious!
If you’re looking for the best sugar cookie recipe to make this holiday season, look no further. This classic recipe is simple and yields wonderfully crispy cookies.
To make the cookie dough, you’ll need flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
Step 1
First, whisk these dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Blend butter and sugar in a larger mixing basin until smooth. Then beat in an egg and vanilla extract.
Step 2
Gradually blend in the dry ingredients until everything is well combined.
Step 3
Now it’s time to roll out the cookie dough! Pinch off small balls of dough and roll them into shapes like snowmen or snowballs.
Step 4
Place them on ungreased cookie sheets and bake in a preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.
Step 5
Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
How To Make The Best Sugar Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are a holiday staple in many households, and for good reason. These delicious cookies are easy to make and can be customized to your liking.
The key ingredients in a gingerbread cookie recipe are molasses, spice flavors (like cinnamon, ginger, and clove), brown sugar, and flour.
Molasses provides natural sweetness and adds moistness to the cookies, while the spices give them that signature gingerbread flavor. Brown sugar helps to give the cookies a chewy texture, while the flour helps to absorb any excess moisture.
With these simple ingredients, you can easily whip up a batch of delicious gingerbread cookies that everyone will enjoy.
Step 1
The first step in making a gingerbread cookie is to mix the dough. You’ll need flour, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
Step 2
Once all the ingredients are combined, the dough will be sticky; that’s normal. The next step is to wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it for at least three hours. This will help it firm up, so it’s easier to work with later.
Step 3
When you’re ready to roll out the dough, dust your work surface with flour to prevent sticking. Then use a rolling pin to roll it out until it’s about 1/4-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 4
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until the cookies are firm and slightly golden brown around the edges.
Step 5
Once they’re baked, let the cookies cool completely before decorating. You can use icing, sprinkles, and other candies to create whatever designs you like.
And that’s all there is to it! With a little prep time, you’ll be enjoying fresh-baked gingerbread cookies in no time.
Classic Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Pecan Snowball Cookies
Pecan snowball cookies are a favorite holiday treat in many households. These cookies are made with chopped pecans, unsalted butter, sugar, vanilla extract, kosher salt, and flour. They are rolled into balls and then coated with powdered sugar.
The result is a delicious cookie that is perfect for sharing with family and friends. If you want to make your own snowball cookies, here is a recipe to follow.
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Step 1
To begin, preheat your oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, finely chop 1 cup of pecans and spread them out in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
Step 2
Roast the pecans in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until they’re lightly toasted and have a nutty aroma. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Step 3
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together 1 cup of butter and 1 cup of sugar until lightened and creamy.
Step 4
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt; beat to combine.
Step 5
Add 2 cups of flour and the cooled toasted pecans, and mix on low until everything is well incorporated.
Step 6
Then use a cookie scoop or your hands to shape the dough into 1-inch balls, pressing the dough together as you go.
Step 7
Place the cookies 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets; you should be able to fit about 24 cookies on each sheet.
Step 8
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned. The cookies should cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before being moved to a wire rack or dish to finish cooling.
Step 9
Repeat with the remaining cookies, rolling each one in powdered sugar before returning it to the baking sheet.
Step 10
The final step before serving or keeping cookies in an airtight container is to roll them in powdered sugar again after they have cooled fully.
EASY Christmas Snowballs – Pecan Balls – So Easy, ANYONE Can Make These
Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies With Almond Glaze
Making jam-filled thumbprint cookies is easier than you might think – and they’re sure to impress your friends and family!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened;
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar;
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract;
- ¼ teaspoon salt;
- 2 cups all-purpose flour;
- ⅓ cup jam;
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar;
- 1 teaspoon almond extract;
- 1-2 tablespoons almond milk.
The key to perfect thumbprints is all in the dough.
Step 1
Start by creaming the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy with an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer.
Step 2
Then add the vanilla and salt and beat until combined. Next, gradually add the flour until the mixture forms a dough. Be careful not to overmix, or your cookies will be tough. The dough should be soft but not too sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour until it comes together.
Step 3
Once the dough is formed, shape it into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour. This will help to prevent spreading when you bake them.
Step 4
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 F.
Step 5
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to make an indentation in the center of each ball of dough. Then, be careful not to overfill the indentations with jam. You can use any kind of jam that you like. It is preferable if you use strawberry or raspberry jam.
Step 6
Place the cookie tray in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes while the oven preheats. This will help to prevent the cookies from spreading too much while they’re baking.
Step 7
When the oven is ready, bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack before drizzling with glaze.
Step 8
To make the glaze, simply whisk together confectioners’ sugar, almond extract, and milk in a medium bowl.
Step 9
Start with 1 tablespoon of milk and add more until you reach the desired consistency. If you want a thinner glaze, add more milk; if you want it thicker, add more sugar.
Step 10
Once you’ve reached your desired consistency, transfer the glaze to a piping bag or use a spoon to drizzle it over the cooled cookies. Allow the glaze to set for 1-2 hours before serving.
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread cookies are a classic holiday treat, and they’re easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients. shortbread cookie dough is made with flour, butter, sugar, and salt. The key to shortbread cookies is getting the dough nice and cold before you bake them, so they hold their shape.
Step 1
Once the dough is rolled out, use a cookie cutter to cut out your cookies. Place them on some sheets of parchment paper and put them in the freezer or fridge for at least 15 minutes to firm up again. This helps them hold their shape better while baking.
Step 2
Bake the cookies just until the edges turn slightly golden, about 8-10 minutes. Allow cooling completely before dipping it in chocolate.
Step 3
Melt some chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or over a double boiler.
Step 4
Dip each shortbread cookie halfway into the melted chocolate, then place on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper to set.
Step 5
If you want, you can also drizzle some additional melted chocolate over the top of each cookie for a decorative touch.
These shortbread cookies are best enjoyed with a glass of milk. They’ll keep fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks – if they last that long.
What Are the 7 Steps in Making Cookies?
Here are seven detailed steps on how to make them:
- Sift Dry Ingredients: This helps with the rising process and allows for a more consistent cookie.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: This makes the cookies more flavorful and gives them a lighter texture.
- Beat in Eggs: This will add richness and bind all of the ingredients together.
- Add Dry Ingredients to Wet: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until everything is combined.
- Fold in Chips or Nuts: This is optional but adds a nice crunch and extra flavor to the cookies.
- Shape Cookies: Shape the dough into balls or use a cookie cutter to cut out desired shapes.
- Bake and Cool: Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven. Let them cool before enjoying!
3-Ingredient Butter Cookies Recipe
FAQs
When Should I Start Making Christmas Cookies?
Ideally, you should start making your Christmas cookies a few weeks before the big day. This will give you plenty of time to perfect your recipes and try out different decorating techniques. Plus, you’ll have plenty of delicious treats in the lead-up to Christmas.
What Is the Most Popular Christmas Cookie?
Sugar cookies, gingerbread and peanut butter blossoms are the most popular Christmas cookies. These classic recipes are beloved by bakers around the world for their ease of preparation and flavor that evokes the holiday season.
When Should I Start Making Christmas Cookies?
However, for optimal freshness and taste, it’s best to bake them 3 months in advance if you plan on storing them in the freezer, or 2 weeks or less in advance if you plan on keeping them at room temperature. That way, you’ll be sure to get the most out of your Christmas cookies!.
Conclusion
Christmas cookies are a beloved tradition for many families during the holiday season. This year, why not try out a few new recipes to add some excitement to your baking?
We’ve gathered some of the best Christmas cookie recipes from around the internet so you can get started in the kitchen.
From classic sugar cookies to festive gingerbread men, we’ve got something for everyone. And if you need a little help getting started, our step-by-step guides will show you how it’s done. So what are you waiting for? Get baking!
