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Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Christmas shortbread cookies are a delicate treat with a buttery flavor and crumbly texture. This true holiday classic is light, fluffy, and practically melts in your mouth.
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Christmas shortbread cookies are a holiday classic that is buttery, delicate, and delicious. The whipped shortbread cookies have a distinct and irresistible flavor with hints of vanilla and almond extract. These light and fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas shortbread cookies, are perfect for parties or a sweet treat when you’re in the mood for something festive.
Looking for more treats that are perfect for a holiday party or for enjoying around the tree? Christmas Pinwheel Cookies, Christmas Wreath Cookies, and Christmas Cookie Bars are three more festive cookie recipes that will soon become family favorites.
Christmas Shortbread Cookies Ingredients
You will need:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Holiday sprinkles, jimmies, or nonpareils
PRO TIP: There is no substitute for the added cornstarch in this classic recipe. It is what gives these shortbread cookies their delicate, soft texture. This, along with the whipped butter and powdered sugar, are what makes these easy cookies so tasty.
Substitutions and Additions
VANILLA: I like to use clear vanilla extract, also known as clear vanilla flavoring, when making cookies that are so pale in color. Sometimes the darker vanilla extract brands will give the cookie dough a slightly tan color. They both will taste delicious, but I like the look of the cookies better with the clear vanilla flavor.
SPRINKLES: When choosing your sprinkles for this great recipe, I like to keep it simple and only use the nonpareils or jimmies. When the sprinkle blends have bigger pieces, the larger sprinkles do not want to stay on the cookie. The nonpareils are my number one choice because I like how they nestle into the indentations that are left from pressing the tines of the fork into the top of the cookie dough balls.
How to Make Christmas Shortbread Cookies
PRO TIP: For the softened butter in this delicious recipe, you will want to make sure that it is just at room temperature and not overly soft. You should be able to press your finger into the top of the butter and leave a slight impression, but NOT be able to press your finger all the way through the butter. If your butter is too soft, your cookies will spread too much when baking, and you will not get the desired results for the recipe.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
STEP TWO: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the butter and powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl before adding the remaining ingredients.
PRO TIP: When beating powdered sugar into a recipe, I suggest always starting on low speed to allow the majority of the powdered sugar to mix in before increasing the speed. This will help ensure you don’t create a powdered sugar mess all over your kitchen counters.
STEP THREE: Add the vanilla and almond extract to the butter and beat for an additional 1 minute.
STEP FOUR: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt in a separate bowl. This will ensure that you do not have any lumps of cornstarch in your cookie dough.
STEP FIVE: With your mixer on low, spoon the flour mixture slowly into the mixing bowl. You will want to allow the flour to be incorporated after each addition before adding more to the mixing bowl.
STEP SIX: Once all your flour mixture has been added, you will want to increase the speed to medium and beat the dough for an additional 30 to 45 seconds to ensure that all the ingredients are fully incorporated and that your dough is light and fluffy.
STEP SEVEN: Remove your paddle attachment and refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes.
STEP EIGHT: Using a 1½-inch cookie scoop (approximately 1½ tablespoons), scoop the dough and gently roll each dough ball in the palm of your hand.
STEP NINE: Place the cookie dough balls onto the parchment-lined cookie sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart, and flatten the tops of each cookie with the tines of a dinner fork. Your flattened cookie should be about 1½ inches in diameter. You will get 8-10 cookies on each baking sheet.
STEP TEN: Garnish each cookie with the holiday sprinkles.
STEP ELEVEN: Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes. You can rotate your baking sheets halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking. You do not want your cookies to get golden brown. They should be a pale cream color.
PRO TIP: Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your shortbread Christmas cookies at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
STEP TWELVE: Allow your cookies to cool on the baking tray for 10 to 15 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack to cool completely before serving them.
How to Serve Christmas Shortbread Cookies
These Christmas shortbread cookies are perfect for serving on your holiday cookie platter, taking to a cookie exchange, or simply enjoying them for an afternoon snack. You can serve these delicate little shortbread cookies with hot tea, coffee, or homemade hot chocolate. For grown-ups, a glass of homemade eggnog or a Christmas hot chocolate is another way to enjoy these classic cookies.
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: These classic shortbread cookies can be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.
IN THE FREEZER: These butter shortbread cookies can be frozen once baked for up to 2 months. Allow the baked cookies to cool completely, then flash-freeze them on the baking sheets for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before placing them into an airtight container.
You can also flash freeze the dough balls, then transfer them to a freezer-safe zip-top bag. You can bake from frozen, but you will need to add an additional 2 to 3 minutes to the bake time.
Christmas shortbread cookies are a true Christmas classic. Delicious, with a buttery flavor and crumbly texture, they’ll soon become one of your favorite cookies, if they aren’t already. Top them off with colorful festive sprinkles or sanding sugar to make them extra special.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use cookie cutters with these Christmas shortbread cookies with sprinkles?
This buttery shortbread cookie recipe will be too soft to create shapes with cookie cutters. Our no-spread sugar cookies are perfect for your favorite cookie cutters.
Do I have to chill the dough?
To achieve soft cookies and prevent them from spreading in the oven, the soft dough needs a little bit of chilling time in the fridge.
Can I freeze the unbaked cookies?
The dough for these simple shortbread cookies can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer until you are ready to bake them. Thaw and bake them when you are ready to enjoy them.
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Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Christmas shortbread cookies are a delicate treat with a buttery flavor and crumbly texture. This true holiday classic is light, fluffy, and practically melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Holiday sprinkles jimmies, or nonpareils
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the butter and powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Add the vanilla and almond extract to the butter and beat for an additional 1 minute.
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt in a separate bowl. This will ensure that you do not have any lumps of cornstarch in your cookie dough.
- With your mixer on low, spoon the flour mixture slowly into the mixing bowl. You will want to allow the flour to be incorporated after each addition before adding more to the mixing bowl.
- Once all your flour mixture has been added, you will want to increase the speed to medium and beat the dough for an additional 30 to 45 seconds to ensure that all the ingredients are fully incorporated and that your dough is light and fluffy.
- Remove your paddle attachment and refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes.
- Using a 1½-inch cookie scoop (approximately 1½ tablespoons), scoop the dough and gently roll each dough ball in the palm of your hand.
- Place the cookie dough balls onto the parchment-lined cookie sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart, and flatten the tops of each cookie with the tines of a dinner fork. Your flattened cookie should be about 1½ inches in diameter. You will get 8-10 cookies on each baking sheet.
- Garnish each cookie with the holiday sprinkles.
- Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes. You can rotate your baking sheets halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking. You do not want your cookies to get golden brown. They should be a pale cream color.
- Allow your cookies to cool on the baking tray for 10 to 15 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack to cool completely before serving them.
Notes
There is no substitute for the added cornstarch in this classic recipe. It is what gives these shortbread cookies their delicate, soft texture. This, along with the whipped butter and powdered sugar, are what makes these easy cookies so tasty.
For the softened butter in this delicious recipe, you will want to make sure that it is just at room temperature and not overly soft. You should be able to press your finger into the top of the butter and leave a slight impression, but NOT be able to press your finger all the way through the butter. If your butter is too soft, your cookies will spread too much when baking, and you will not get the desired results for the recipe.
When beating powdered sugar into a recipe, I suggest always starting on low speed to allow the majority of the powdered sugar to mix in before increasing the speed. This will help ensure you don’t create a powdered sugar mess all over your kitchen counters.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your shortbread Christmas cookies at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
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