Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe

If you love tradition with a twist, I have just the recipe for you—the Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe is a festive crowd-pleaser that combines ease, creativity, and that nostalgic homemade charm we all cherish during the holidays. Imagine vibrant, colorful cookie stacks encased in buttery dough, sliced into perfect rounds of joy that fill your kitchen with the scent of vanilla and sweetness. This recipe is fun to make with family or friends and transforms simple ingredients into stunning cookies that everyone will adore. Let’s dive into the delightful process of crafting these memorable treats that taste as magical as they look!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every great cookie starts with the right ingredients, and this recipe keeps it straightforward yet essential—each element plays a key role in the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and beautiful color for these Christmas cookies.

• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened: The foundation for richness and tender crumb in your cookies.
• 3/4 cup (90 grams) confectioners’ sugar: Helps create a delicate sweetness and smooth texture.
• ¾ cup (150 grams) white sugar: Adds structure and a lightly crisp edge to your cookies.
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla: Deepens the flavor with warm, comforting notes.
• 2 eggs: Bind everything together and add moisture for a soft bite.
• 4 cups (480 grams) all purpose flour: The bulk of your dough, providing that perfect cookie body.
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder: Gives just enough lift to keep cookies from being too dense.
• 1/4 teaspoon salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
• Gel food coloring: Bring in the festive flair with vibrant pops of red, green, blue, or gold.

How to Make Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Dry Ingredients

Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined. This ensures that your cookies will have consistent texture and rise without any pockets of baking powder.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In another bowl, beat the softened butter with the confectioners’ sugar and white sugar using a hand mixer until light and fluffy—about 3 minutes. This process aerates the mixture and gives your cookies a tender, melt-in-your-mouth quality.

Step 3: Add Vanilla and Eggs

Beat in the vanilla extract and eggs until the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated. These add both moisture and flavor, enriching the dough beautifully.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry

Add your dry ingredients into the wet mixture gradually and beat until a soft dough forms. The dough should feel soft but not sticky—perfect for shaping and coloring.

Step 5: Divide and Chill the Dough

Wrap two-thirds of the plain dough and refrigerate it. The remaining third will be divided further and colored. This separation helps you create those gorgeous festive layers while keeping the base dough tender.

Step 6: Color Your Dough

Divide your remaining dough into portions and add gel food coloring of your choice. Mixing by hand with gloves or using a mixer works fine. Wrap each colored portion tightly and chill them for at least an hour to set the colors and firm up the dough.

Step 7: Cut Shapes and Stack

Roll out each colored dough to about ½ inch thick. Use mini cookie cutters to cut out small shapes and then stack identical shapes into neat, firm towers. Freeze these stacks for at least 4 hours to make them easier to handle in the next step.

Step 8: Soften the Plain Dough

Take the plain dough out of the fridge after about 3 hours and allow it to soften at room temperature for about an hour. This pliability is key to encasing your shape stacks smoothly.

Step 9: Form the Cookie Logs

Remove the frozen stacks from the freezer. Press the softened plain dough firmly around each stack to create a log, making sure the colorful shapes run straight through the center. For intricate shapes like snowflakes, pad small bits of plain dough into crevices before wrapping fully.

Step 10: Smooth and Freeze the Logs

Roll the logs gently between your hands until they are smooth, round, and even in thickness. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to make slicing easier later.

Step 11: Bake Your Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the logs from the freezer and let them soften for about 20 minutes before slicing.

Step 12: Slice and Bake

Using a sharp knife, cut ¼-inch-thick slices from each frozen log. Place them on your baking sheets and bake for 9 to 10 minutes until they are set and lightly golden around the edges. That’s when you know your Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe has truly come to life!

How to Serve Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

While these cookies are stunning on their own, a gentle dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate adds a lovely finishing touch that heightens the festive spirit and makes each bite a holiday celebration.

Side Dishes

These cookies shine paired with a steaming cup of hot cocoa or a spiced holiday latte. Their buttery texture and vibrant colors complement the warm richness of your favorite holiday drinks perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

Display your cookies stacked on a festive platter or arrange them in a decorative tin tied with ribbon for gift giving. You can also layer different colored logs before cutting slices to create multicolored pinwheel effects that wow guests visually and tastefully.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. This way, their buttery flavor stays intact, and the texture remains delightfully soft yet crisp at the edges.

Freezing

You can freeze the cookie logs before slicing for up to three months, making this recipe a fantastic option to prepare well ahead of holiday festivities. Just thaw slightly before slicing and baking as directed.

Reheating

To enjoy your cookies fresh from the oven again, pop them in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3 to 4 minutes. This quick reheat revives their soft texture and warm flavor without drying them out.

FAQs

Can I use food coloring other than gel?

Gel food coloring is best for this recipe as it provides vivid colors without altering the dough’s consistency. Liquid colorings might make your dough too soft or sticky, so stick with gel for vibrant, easy-to-handle dough.

What if I don’t have mini cookie cutters?

No worries at all! You can shape your cookies using small knife cuts or freehand shapes like stars and hearts to keep the festive fun alive. Just keep the thickness consistent for even baking.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Absolutely! Swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend designed for baking. Be sure to check that it contains xanthan gum or add it separately to help hold the dough together.

Why do I need to freeze the dough stacks and logs?

Freezing firms up the dough layers so that when you slice them into cookies, the shapes remain sharp and clean. It also helps the logs hold together during baking without spreading too much.

How long do the cookies keep their freshness?

Stored properly at room temperature in an airtight container, these cookies stay fresh for about a week. For longer keeping, freezing the baked cookies works well, too.

Final Thoughts

This Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe truly brings holiday baking to a new level of fun and flavor. Whether you’re decorating your kitchen with little hands or surprising loved ones with a homemade gift, these cookies are a joyous way to celebrate the season. Give them a try—you’ll find that the process is just as delightful as the delicious results!

Print