Discover the ultimate recipe for Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies, guaranteed to become a holiday staple. These cookies are tender, flavorful, and hold their shape perfectly, making them ideal for all your festive decorating ideas. Say goodbye to dry, crumbly cookies and hello to melt-in-your-mouth perfection. This is the only recipe you’ll need for your Christmas cookie exchange.
We’ve all been there: you spend hours crafting beautiful cookie shapes, only to have them morph into unrecognizable blobs in the oven. This foolproof recipe for Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies solves that problem entirely. The secret lies in the precise combination of ingredients and chilling the dough, ensuring every star, tree, and snowflake comes out with crisp, clean edges.
Why You’ll Love These Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies
- Perfectly Soft Texture: A carefully balanced ratio of fats and sugars creates a wonderfully tender, chewy cookie that stays soft for days.
- Rich Buttery Flavor: Using high-quality unsalted butter is key to achieving that classic, irresistible buttery taste that defines a perfect holiday cookie.
- No Spread, Perfect Shapes: This dough is specifically designed to hold its shape, making it the ideal canvas for your favorite cookie cutters and decorations.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, this recipe is perfect for bakers of all skill levels, including little helpers in the kitchen. For a similar easy treat, try these festive sugar cookie bars.
The Secret Ingredients for Incredibly Soft Cookies
The magic of these cookies isn’t just in the method; it’s in the ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and flavor.
Unsalted Butter
The star of the show! Use high-quality, room temperature unsalted butter. It should be soft enough to indent with your finger but not greasy or melted. This ensures it creams properly with the sugar, creating air pockets that lead to a light, soft cookie.
A Mix of Sugars
We use a combination of granulated and powdered sugar. Granulated sugar provides sweetness and helps with the structure, while powdered sugar, containing a bit of cornstarch, contributes to that incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
All-Purpose Flour
Properly measured all-purpose flour is essential. Too much flour will result in dry, tough cookies. Be sure to spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off, rather than scooping directly from the bag.
Egg and Vanilla
A single large egg binds the dough together, while a generous splash of pure vanilla extract provides the classic, warm flavor that complements the butter perfectly. This combination is what makes them taste like Santa's favorite cookies.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of perfect Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies. The process is straightforward and yields fantastic results every time.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is incorporated.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or until firm. This step is crucial for preventing spread!
- Roll and Cut: Once chilled, lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll one disk of dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite Christmas cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers should still look soft.
- Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Do not attempt to decorate until they are fully cooled.
Tips for Perfect, Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies Every Time
A few expert tips can take your cookies from good to absolutely unforgettable. Keep these in mind as you bake.
Don’t Overmix the Dough
Once you add the flour, mix only until the last streaks disappear. Overworking the dough develops gluten, which results in tough, hard cookies instead of tender, soft ones.
The Importance of Chilling
Chilling the dough is non-negotiable. It solidifies the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading too thin in the oven. This ensures they hold their intricate shapes perfectly.
Bake Just Until the Edges Are Set
For the softest texture, pull the cookies from the oven when the edges are just beginning to turn a light golden brown. They will continue to set up on the hot baking sheet. This is the secret to a soft, chewy center.
Storing and Freezing Your Cookies
To keep your Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze either the baked cookies or the raw dough.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: Place cooled, undecorated cookies in a single layer in a freezer-safe container, separated by parchment paper. They will keep for up to 3 months.
- Freezing Cookie Dough: The wrapped dough disks can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking. You can also freeze the cut-out shapes on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag.
FAQs about Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the dough disks for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight before use.
The most effective way to prevent spreading is to chill the dough thoroughly for at least 1-2 hours before rolling and cutting. A cold, firm dough ensures the butter doesn’t melt too quickly in the oven, helping the cookies hold their shape perfectly.
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies will stay wonderfully soft and fresh for up to 5 days.
For these cookies, a simple buttercream frosting is delicious and easy to work with. If you want a frosting that hardens for stacking and decorating, a classic royal icing is the best choice.
The secret to soft cookies is using the right ratio of fat and sugar, avoiding overmixing the flour, and, most importantly, not overbaking. Pull the cookies from the oven when the edges are just set and the centers look slightly soft.
Ready for More Festive Treats?
Once you’ve mastered these Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies, you’ll be ready to tackle more holiday baking projects. For other crowd-pleasing holiday desserts, try making an Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe or a show-stopping No-Bake Grinch Pie. Happy baking, and don’t forget to share your creations on Pinterest!
The Ultimate Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe
Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies (That Don’t Spread!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl with a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the dough.
- Divide the dough in half, form each into a 1-inch thick disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours or until firm.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and place 1-2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are very lightly browned. The centers will still appear soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
Chill Time is Essential: Don't skip the chilling step! It's crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading and ensuring they hold their shape perfectly.
Uniform Thickness: Try to roll your dough to an even 1/4-inch thickness. This helps all the cookies bake evenly.
