These festive Christmas cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings and make delightful gifts. With a variety of shapes and decorations, they bring joy and cheer to any celebration.
This recipe is simple and allows for creativity with different cookie cutters and icing designs. You can customize the flavors and decorations to suit your holiday preferences.
Creating Festive Cookie Shapes
Transforming simple dough into delightful Christmas cookies is a joyful experience.
With a classic sugar cookie base, you can roll out the dough and cut it into festive shapes like stars, trees, and snowmen.
This fun activity is perfect for family gatherings or a cozy day at home.
Essential Ingredients for Success
To achieve the perfect cookie, gather your ingredients.
You’ll need all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder to create the right texture.
The richness comes from unsalted butter and white sugar, while an egg and extracts of vanilla and almond add depth to the flavor.
Don’t forget royal icing and sprinkles for decoration!
These finishing touches bring your cookies to life, making them visually appealing and festive.
Step-by-Step Baking Process
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl while creaming the butter and sugar in another.
Incorporate the egg and extracts, then blend in the dry mixture to form a dough.
Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.
Use cookie cutters to create your desired shapes.
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until they turn golden, then let them cool on wire racks.
Decorating Your Cookies
Once the cookies are cool, it’s time to unleash your creativity.
Decorate them with royal icing, allowing for intricate designs or simple patterns.
Sprinkles or edible glitter can add an extra pop of color and fun.
Setting the Holiday Scene
Arrange your beautifully decorated cookies on a decorative plate.
Surround them with holiday decorations like pine branches and ornaments to create a cheerful atmosphere.
This presentation not only showcases your baking skills but also enhances the festive spirit of your gathering.
Sharing the Joy
These colorful cookies are perfect for sharing.
Whether you gift them to friends or serve them at a holiday party, they are sure to bring smiles.
Their delightful shapes and vibrant decorations make them a highlight of any festive celebration.
Easy Christmas Cookie Shapes Recipe
These cookies are made from a classic sugar cookie dough that can be rolled out and cut into various shapes like stars, trees, and snowmen. The recipe yields about 24 cookies and takes approximately 1 hour from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
- Royal icing for decoration
- Sprinkles or edible glitter for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. If the dough is too dry, add milk one tablespoon at a time until it holds together.
- Roll Out Dough: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Bake Cookies: Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden. Let them cool on wire racks.
- Decorate: Once cooled, decorate the cookies with royal icing and sprinkles as desired.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 150kcal
- Fat: 7g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 22g