Description
These classic Christmas Butter Cookies are buttery, tender, and subtly sweet, making them the perfect holiday treat. With a simple mix of basic ingredients and a quick bake time, they’re easy to prepare and delightful to share with family and friends during festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is at the right temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer or sturdy spoon to cream together the softened butter and white sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, which helps create a light texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, adding moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing well to distribute the leavening and seasoning evenly.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually stir the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms that is slightly stiff but pliable.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into small 1-inch balls and arrange them spaced apart on ungreased cookie sheets to allow spreading during baking.
- Flatten Dough Balls: Flatten each ball gently with a fork, creating a classic fork-pressed pattern and ensuring even thickness for uniform baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking to keep cookies tender.
- Cool: Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on wire racks to prevent sogginess and to firm up the texture before serving.
Notes
- For extra festive flair, dip the cooled cookies in melted chocolate or sprinkle with colored sugar before baking.
- If you prefer crisper cookies, bake for an additional 1-2 minutes but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted to achieve the best creaming texture.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies freeze well; freeze baked cookies or unbaked dough balls for future use.
