These delightful Christmas cookies are made without butter, making them a lighter alternative while still delivering on flavor and texture. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these cookies are easy to prepare and can be decorated to suit the festive season.
The recipe is simple and requires basic ingredients, allowing for customization with your favorite spices, extracts, or add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts.
Creating Festive Butter-Free Christmas Cookies
Transform your holiday gatherings with a delightful array of Christmas cookies that are both beautiful and butter-free. These cookies are not only lighter but also maintain a wonderful flavor and texture that everyone will enjoy.
Using simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these festive treats in no time. The absence of butter opens the door for creativity, allowing you to customize the cookies with your favorite spices or extracts, making them uniquely yours.
Essential Ingredients for Your Cookies
To make these cookies, gather the following ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Vegetable oil
- Applesauce
- Egg
- Vanilla and almond extracts
- Baking powder and baking soda
- Salt
- Optional: chocolate chips or colorful sprinkles
These ingredients come together to create a soft and chewy cookie that’s perfect for decorating. The use of applesauce not only contributes moisture but also adds a hint of sweetness.
Decorating Your Christmas Cookies
Once your cookies are baked and cooled, it’s time to unleash your creativity with decorations. Use colorful icing to bring your cookies to life, creating intricate designs on star, tree, and snowflake shapes.
Sprinkles can add a festive touch, making each cookie a little piece of art. Arrange them on a vibrant red and green tablecloth to enhance the holiday spirit, creating a cheerful display that will impress your guests.
Setting the Scene for Holiday Celebrations
The atmosphere plays a significant role in holiday celebrations. Soft lighting can create a warm and inviting environment, making your cookie display even more appealing.
Consider using candles or string lights to add a cozy glow to your table. This simple touch can elevate the festive mood, making your cookie presentation a centerpiece for gatherings.
Enjoying the Festivities with Family and Friends
These butter-free Christmas cookies are perfect for sharing with loved ones. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, these treats are sure to bring smiles.
Encourage everyone to join in the decorating fun. It’s a wonderful way to bond and create lasting memories during the holiday season.
Storing Your Cookies for Later
If you happen to have leftovers, storing these cookies is easy. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their freshness.
They can last for several days, allowing you to enjoy the festive flavors long after the initial baking. Consider gifting some to friends or neighbors as a sweet holiday gesture.
Easy Butter-Free Christmas Cookies Recipe
These cookies are soft and chewy, made with oil instead of butter, and flavored with vanilla and almond extracts. The recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and yields approximately 24 cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips or sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, applesauce, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. If desired, fold in chocolate chips or sprinkles.
- Scoop Cookies: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked; they will firm up as they cool.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 18g