Soft Christmas Cookies
Ingredients:
For the Cookies:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
teaspoon almond extract
4 tablespoons milk
For the Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring optional
Sprinkles optional
Directions:
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 400F 200C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth and well combined.
Combine Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, and mix until a soft dough forms.
If the dough feels too sticky, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Roll and Shape:
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about -inch thickness.
Use festive cookie cutters to cut the dough into your favorite holiday shapes.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each one.
Bake the Cookies:
Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Icing:
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Add food coloring, if desired, to make festive shades for decorating.
Decorate the Cookies:
Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the icing onto each one.
Decorate with sprinkles or additional embellishments to add a festive touch.
Let Them Set:
Allow the icing to set for about 30 minutes before serving or storing.
Nutritional Information:
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 8 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes plus chilling time
Kcal: 180 kcal per cookie
Servings: About 36 cookies
Tips:
For perfectly smooth icing, let the cookies cool completely before decorating.
Add almond extract to the icing for an extra boost of flavor.
Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
#ChristmasCookies #HolidayBaking #SoftSugarCookies #FestiveTreats #CookieDecorating