Description
Delight in the festive spirit with these Christmas Crack Cookies, featuring a buttery, spiced dough studded with vibrant red and green sprinkles. Perfectly soft with lightly golden edges, these cookies are an easy holiday treat that’s both visually appealing and delicious. Finished with an optional dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy touch, they make a charming gift or a festive snack to brighten your holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup red and green festive sprinkles
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer or by hand until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your dough.
- Add Vanilla and Eggs: Incorporate the vanilla extract and then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure full integration and a consistent batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg so the spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Gently fold in the red and green festive sprinkles, distributing them evenly without melting or dulling their colors.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet to allow space for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until their edges turn lightly golden, indicating that they are cooked through but still soft inside.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps retain their texture.
- Optional Finishing Touch: Once cooled, sprinkle the cookies lightly with powdered sugar to add a festive, snowy appearance.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.
- Add white chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the dough for extra texture and flavor variety.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to one week.
- These cookies make a wonderful holiday gift when packaged in decorative tins or festive treat bags.
