Description
This Easy Soft Christmas Cookie Recipe delivers tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies perfect for holiday celebrations. Combining creamy butter and cream cheese with a hint of almond extract, these cookies are soft, flavorful, and beautifully festive when topped with red and green sanding sugar. Simple to make and irresistibly delicious, they are ideal for sharing with family and friends during Christmas.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 stick salted butter, softened (113g)
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened (57g)
- 1½ cups sugar (300g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour (312g)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (5g)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (1.5g)
Topping
- Red sanding sugar (for decoration)
- Green sanding sugar (for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to warm up while you prepare the cookie dough, ensuring even baking.
- Cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, which usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes using an electric mixer.
- Add eggs and extracts: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla and almond extracts until fully combined.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to maintain cookie tenderness.
- Shape the cookies: Scoop the dough using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, and roll into balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Add topping: Lightly press each dough ball into the red and green sanding sugar, gently coating the tops for a festive look.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preserving their soft texture.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing.
- Do not overbake—the cookies should look slightly underdone in the center for maximum softness.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Red and green sanding sugar adds festive color but can be substituted with plain sugar or sprinkles as desired.
Keywords: Christmas cookies, soft cookies, holiday baking, cream cheese cookies, festive cookies