Christmas Butter Cookies
These Piped Christmas Butter Cookies are the perfect holiday treat!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, very softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (dark, milk, or white)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or shortening (optional, for smoother dipping)
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until very light, pale, and fluffy (3 - 4 minutes).
2. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until fully combined.
3. Add flour and salt. Mix on low just until the dough comes together and is smooth.
4. Transfer dough into a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip (1M, 2D, or Ateco 827).
5. Pipe shapes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Rosettes, S-shapes, ridges, or long sticks for dipping.
6. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and chill piped cookies for 15 - 20 minutes (important for no spread).
7. Preheat oven to 350°F.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden.
9. Let cool completely before dipping.
10. Melt chocolate in a microwave in 20–30 second bursts, stirring between each.
11. Add coconut oil for shine and a thinner dip (optional).
12. Dip one end or one side of each cookie into the melted chocolate.
13. Immediately add Christmas sprinkles.
14. Place on parchment and allow chocolate to set.
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If you're looking to elevate your holiday baking, these Christmas Butter Cookies are a fantastic choice that combines buttery richness with festive charm. The key to achieving the perfect texture lies in properly softening the unsalted butter and creaming it with sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy, which creates a delicate crumb in your cookies. Using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip allows you to shape the dough into attractive rosettes or ridged sticks, adding aesthetic appeal to your treats. Chilling the dough before baking is essential as it prevents the cookies from spreading, ensuring crisp edges and a tender center. For the chocolate dip, melting chocolate chips in short bursts and stirring helps avoid burning and results in a smooth coating. Adding a bit of coconut oil not only gives the chocolate a glossy finish but also makes dipping easier. Immediately decorating dipped cookies with Christmas-themed sprinkles adds color and festive cheer, making them perfect for holiday parties or gifts. This cookie recipe can also be personalized. You might experiment with different extracts like peppermint for a holiday twist or substitute the chocolate dip with white chocolate or colored candy melts to match your party's theme. Incorporating the "12 Days of Cookies" tradition, as highlighted in seasonal baking challenges, is a fun way to share a variety of cookie styles with family and friends. For best results, use high-quality vanilla and almond extracts to deepen flavor, and sift your all-purpose flour to prevent lumps and maintain dough smoothness. Baking at 350°F for about 10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden yields that perfect balance between soft and crispy. With these tips, your Christmas Butter Cookies will not only taste amazing but will also look stunning on any holiday cookie platter. Happy baking and enjoy spreading the festive joy with these classic, buttery delights!
