The holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in delicious homemade cookies, and nothing beats a batch of soft and chewy Christmas cookies. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party or simply satisfying your sweet tooth, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit.
What sets these cookies apart is their texture. The combination of butter, sugar, and vanilla extract creates a soft and tender cookie that practically melts in your mouth. The addition of festive sprinkles or icing adds a touch of holiday cheer and makes these cookies perfect for gifting or decorating your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
The Best Soft Christmas Cookies recipe requires a few key ingredients to create the perfect holiday treat. These cookies are made with:
- All-purpose flour – This provides the structure and texture of the cookies.
- Baking powder – Helps the cookies rise and gives them a fluffy texture.
- Salt – Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness of the cookies.
- Unsalted butter – Adds richness and flavor to the cookies.
- Granulated sugar – Provides sweetness and helps to create a soft texture.
- Brown sugar – Adds moisture and a hint of caramel flavor to the cookies.
- Eggs – Help bind the ingredients together and provide moisture.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor of the cookies.
- Milk – Adds moisture and helps create a soft and tender texture.
- Confectioners’ sugar – Used for dusting the cookies and adding a touch of sweetness.
- Sprinkles or colored sugars – Used for garnishing the cookies and adding a festive touch.
By combining these ingredients in the right proportions, you can create the best soft Christmas cookies that are perfect for sharing with family and friends during the holiday season.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Best Soft Christmas Cookies
Preparing the dough:
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Sift the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture and mix until just combined.
- Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk.
- Wrap the dough disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Baking the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disk to 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips from Professional Chefs for Making the Best Soft Christmas Cookies
When it comes to making the best soft Christmas cookies, professional chefs have a few tips and tricks up their sleeves. These experts know the ins and outs of baking, and they’re sharing their secrets for creating the most delicious and tender holiday treats.
- Use room temperature ingredients. Before you start mixing your dough, make sure that your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This will help create a smooth and creamy texture in your cookies.
- Cream the butter and sugar properly. Creaming the butter and sugar together properly is essential for achieving the perfect soft and fluffy texture. Start by beating the butter until it is light and creamy, then gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add a touch of cornstarch. To make your cookies extra soft, consider adding a tablespoon of cornstarch to your dry ingredients. Cornstarch helps to tenderize the cookies and gives them a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
These tips from professional chefs are sure to elevate your Christmas cookie game. Remember to follow the recipe closely and pay attention to the small details. With a little extra care and these expert tips, your soft Christmas cookies will be the talk of the holiday season.
Reviews
The Best Soft Christmas Cookies recipe is absolutely amazing! As someone who loves to bake during the holiday season, I am always on the lookout for new cookie recipes to try. These cookies are by far the best I have ever made. The texture is perfectly soft, with a slightly chewy center. They have just the right amount of sweetness, making them a hit with both kids and adults.
What sets these cookies apart from others is the combination of flavors. The addition of vanilla extract and almond extract gives them a subtle, yet distinct, flavor that pairs perfectly with the holiday season. The sprinkles on top add a festive touch and make them look even more appealing.
I appreciate that this recipe is easy to follow and requires ingredients that are easily accessible. The instructions are clear and concise, making it a great option for both experienced bakers and beginners. The dough is also easy to work with, making it effortless to shape the cookies into perfect rounds.
Overall, I highly recommend the Best Soft Christmas Cookies recipe to anyone who loves to bake or is looking for a delicious holiday treat. These cookies are sure to become a staple in your holiday baking repertoire. I can’t wait to make them again next year!
I have tried many Christmas cookie recipes over the years, but none compare to these Best Soft Christmas Cookies. They are absolutely divine! The cookies have a soft and tender texture that melts in your mouth with each bite. They are not overly sweet, which allows the flavors of the vanilla and almond extracts to shine through. I love how the cookies are perfectly balanced in terms of sweetness and flavor.
What sets these cookies apart from others is their perfect consistency. They are soft and chewy without being doughy, and they hold their shape beautifully. The edges are slightly crisp, which provides a nice contrast to the soft center. The cookies also have a lovely golden color, which makes them look even more enticing. These cookies are simply a joy to look at and eat!
Another thing I love about these Best Soft Christmas Cookies is their versatility. The recipe allows for various flavor combinations and decorations. I have made them with different colored sugar sprinkles, icing, and even added mini chocolate chips to the dough. No matter how you choose to decorate them, they always turn out wonderfully.
I highly recommend trying the Best Soft Christmas Cookies recipe. They are easy to make, delicious, and perfect for the holiday season. Whether you are baking them for yourself or giving them as a gift, these cookies are sure to impress everyone who tries them. They have become a staple in my Christmas baking, and I can’t wait to make them again this year!
The Best Soft Christmas Cookies recipe is truly a holiday gem! As an avid baker, I’m always on the lookout for delicious and easy-to-make Christmas treats, and these cookies definitely delivered. The dough came together effortlessly, and I loved the addition of festive sprinkles, which added a touch of holiday cheer. The cookies came out of the oven perfectly soft and chewy, just as promised.
What sets these cookies apart is their melt-in-your-mouth texture. They are incredibly tender and almost cake-like, making them a delightful treat to enjoy with a cup of hot cocoa or a glass of milk. The flavor is rich and buttery, with a hint of vanilla that adds a comforting warmth to each bite. Whether enjoyed by children or adults, these cookies are sure to bring smiles and happy tastebuds to all.
Additionally, I appreciate the versatility of this recipe. I followed the instructions exactly, but I can see how easy it would be to customize these cookies to suit different preferences. The addition of chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruits would add an extra layer of flavor and texture to these already delightful treats. I can’t wait to experiment with different variations next Christmas!