Description
These deliciously soft Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for the holiday season. They feature a tender texture, a subtle almond hint, and festive red and green sanding sugar for a cheerful finish. Easy to make and bake, they yield lightly crisp edges with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (297g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- â…› tsp almond extract
Topping
- Red and green sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Mix Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (177ºC). In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to ensure thorough distribution of leavening agents and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the butter-sugar mixture until the wet ingredients are fully incorporated and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Shape Cookies and Add Sugar Topping: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out the dough evenly. Roll each portion into a ball and then roll it in red and green sanding sugar to coat the exterior. Arrange them spaced apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake and Cool: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easier creaming and better cookie texture.
- Rolling the dough balls in sanding sugar before baking adds a festive sparkle and slight crunch.
- Do not overbake to maintain the soft texture; cookies should look set but still soft when removed from oven.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.
