Description
These classic Christmas Cookies, also known as Vanilla Biscuits or Sugar Cookies, are buttery, soft, and perfect for holiday decorating. Made with simple ingredients like butter, sugar, and vanilla, these cookies offer a tender crumb and can be rolled thin for a crispier bite or thicker for a softer texture. Ideal for festive celebrations, they can be decorated with icing, chocolate, or simply dusted with sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 225 g unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg (55-60 g)
- 3 cups plain/all purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
Decorations (Optional)
- Icing for sugar cookies
- Chocolate for melting (optional)
- Silver balls or other sprinkles (optional)
- Icing sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan) and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until creamy, about 1 minute on medium speed.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix slowly at first, then beat until the flour is incorporated and the dough becomes clumpy.
- Prepare Dough: Dust your work surface with flour, scrape the dough out of the bowl, and pat it together. Divide into two equal discs.
- Roll Out Dough: Roll each disc out to 0.6 cm / 1/4 inch thickness for thicker, softer cookies or 0.3 cm / 1/8 inch for thinner, crispier cookies. Use flour under and over the dough to prevent sticking.
- Cut Shapes and Transfer: Use cookie cutters to press out shapes. Use a knife or spatula to transfer the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets. Keep leftover dough refrigerated.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Place both trays in the oven placing one in the middle and one underneath. Halfway through baking, swap their positions to ensure even baking.
- Cool Completely: Allow cookies to cool completely on the trays as they finish cooking while cooling.
- Decorate and Serve: Decorate as desired with icing, melted chocolate dips, silver balls, or a dusting of icing sugar. Or serve plain as sweet vanilla biscuits.
Notes
- The number of cookies depends on the size of your cutters and thickness of dough; this recipe fills 3 baking trays.
- Swapping trays halfway in the oven ensures even baking because the top shelf bakes faster than the bottom shelf.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week for best freshness; they remain edible a bit longer but may dry out slightly.
- You can skip or vary decorations depending on preference – this recipe pairs well with simple icing or chocolate.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
