Description
These Best Soft Christmas Cookies are tender, flavorful sugar cookies perfect for holiday celebrations. They hold their shape beautifully when cut with festive cookie cutters, offering a delightful soft texture in every bite. Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients, these cookies are ideal for decorating or enjoying plain with a cup of tea.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3.75 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1.5 cups white sugar
- 1 cup margarine, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all necessary ingredients and have them ready for preparation to ensure a smooth baking process.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl to eliminate lumps and evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt.
- Cream Sugar and Butter: In a large bowl, beat the softened margarine and white sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is light, smooth, and fluffy, which helps to aerate the dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat the first egg into the butter and sugar mixture completely before incorporating the second egg along with the vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly for even flavor and texture.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir gently just until the dough is combined to avoid overworking it, which could toughen the cookies.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm it up, making it easier to roll and shape without sticking.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Set the oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease two cookie sheets to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use Christmas-themed cookie cutters to cut shapes and arrange them spaced evenly on the prepared baking sheets. Gather scraps, re-roll, and repeat to use all dough.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes until the edges turn golden. Baking times may vary slightly depending on your oven.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate or enjoy as is.
Notes
- These cookies are soft, tender, and maintain their shape well, making them perfect for festive decorations.
- Optional: Sprinkle with colored sugar before baking for a sparkling finish or frost after cooling for added sweetness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 97 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 81 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg
