Description
Classic Christmas Cookies are soft, flavorful treats made with a rich blend of butter, cream cheese, sugar, and warm vanilla and almond extracts. These cookies are perfect for holiday celebrations, decorated with festive red and green sanding sugar for a delightful seasonal touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 stick salted butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decoration
- Red & Green Sanding Sugar
Instructions
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, add softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Using a hand mixer, beat the mixture on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Turn the mixer to a low speed and blend until a soft dough forms.
- Chill Dough: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours to firm up and develop flavor.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: After chilling, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop dough balls onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart to allow for spreading.
- Create Pattern and Decorate: Using a fork, press lightly into each dough ball to create a criss-cross pattern. Sprinkle the tops with red and green sanding sugar for festive decoration.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 11 minutes. Be careful not to overbake; cookies should not brown on the edges and will appear slightly undercooked when removed.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days to maintain freshness.
- Reheat cookies in the microwave for 5-10 seconds for a warm, soft texture.
- Baked cookies can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Dough can be made 2-3 days in advance and kept refrigerated or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Ensure butter and cream cheese are fully softened to prevent lumps in the dough.
- Remove cookies from the oven slightly underbaked; they will firm up as they cool for a perfect soft texture.
- Use a cookie scoop to ensure evenly sized, round cookies.
- Line baking pans with parchment paper or silicone mats for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
