Description
Soft Christmas Cookies are tender, buttery holiday treats that are perfect for festive celebrations. These cookies are easy to make, featuring a soft dough enriched with sour cream and vanilla, and decorated with colorful sprinkles to add a cheerful touch. They bake up tender on the inside with just set edges, making them an irresistible classic dessert.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Decoration
- Holiday sprinkles or colored sugar for decorating
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients: Mix in the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla extract until the ingredients are fully incorporated and smooth.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix to maintain cookie tenderness.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up and enhance the texture and flavor.
- Prepare to bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Shape cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll each into a ball. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Flatten and decorate: Gently flatten each dough ball slightly with your hand or the bottom of a glass, then sprinkle with holiday sprinkles or colored sugar for a festive finish.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just set but not browned to retain softness.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- These cookies are delicious plain, with sprinkles, or topped with a simple glaze or frosting.
- For extra flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract to the dough.
- Chilling the dough helps to prevent spreading and enhances flavor.
- Do not overbake to keep cookies soft and tender.
