Description
Classic Christmas Cookies are soft, buttery sugar cookies enhanced with cream cheese and a hint of almond extract. These festive treats are easy to prepare, decorated with red and green sanding sugar, and perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Main 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
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, add softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Using a hand mixer, beat the mixture until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Combine dry ingredients: Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Turn the mixer to low speed and combine until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours to firm up.
- Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape and decorate cookies: Scoop balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Using a fork, gently press a criss-cross pattern into each cookie. Sprinkle with red and green sanding sugar.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 11 minutes. The cookies should remain soft and look slightly underbaked without browning on the edges.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Soften butter and cream cheese fully before mixing to prevent lumps in the dough.
- Remove cookies from the oven when slightly underbaked; they will firm up as they cool for a soft texture.
- Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform cookie size and shape.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and simplify cleanup.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.
- Reheat cookies in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to enjoy warm, soft cookies.
- Freeze baked cookies 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 refrigerated or frozen up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
