The Best Holiday Sugar Cookies
Try this recipe for The Best Holiday Sugar Cookies, or contribute your own.
Try this recipe for The Best Holiday Sugar Cookies, or contribute your own.
- Carbohydrate 15.244802407187 g
- Cholesterol 4.10046296277886 mg
- Fat 1.49808078699654 g
- Fiber 0.00024537037037037 g
- Protein 0.449339490588399 g
- Saturated Fat 0.876818124974779 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (31g)
- Sodium 15.2939351803526 mg
- Sugar 15.2445570368166 g
- Trans Fat 0.170538254627559 g
- Calories 74 calories
Step-by-step
- Cream the butter and sugar together.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, mix together your dry ingredients.
- Add those slowly to the egg mixture and mix well until dough forms up. Don’t over beat!
- Turn the dough out onto plastic wrap and chill at LEAST 3 hours. This step is crucial because with so much butter in the cookies, they are going to fall apart if too soft.
- Flour a board or counter top well and roll out your cookies. If you are planning on making lollipop or flower cookies, make sure they are at least 1/4 of an inch thick to hold the sticks. If you are just doing holiday cookies, you can roll them out a little bit thinner… but if you like thick cookies? Knock your socks off.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them because you want them to JUST start getting golden around the edges, but not completely brown. I let them sit for a minute or two to set up on the hot tray before transferring them to a rack to cool.
- Decorate however you want!! I use a simple frosting recipe of a heap ton of powdered sugar in my mixer, then adding milk until the frosting is the consistency I’d like. Super technical, right?
The Best Holiday Sugar Cookies: A Family Tradition
The holidays are a whirlwind of activity – shopping, decorating, parties, and of course, baking! For me, the aroma of freshly baked cookies is synonymous with the festive season. It’s a comforting scent that evokes warm memories of family gatherings and cozy nights spent by the fire. This year, I decided to share my tried-and-true recipe for the best holiday sugar cookies – a recipe that’s been passed down through generations and perfected over countless Christmases. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s a tradition, a labor of love, and a delicious way to spread holiday cheer.
These aren't your average, run-of-the-mill sugar cookies. Oh no, these are special. They're perfectly buttery, delightfully crisp on the edges, and delightfully soft in the center. The secret? A generous amount of butter, a little patience (chilling the dough is key!), and a whole lot of love. I’ve spent years perfecting this recipe, tweaking it here and there, until I reached the ultimate balance of flavor and texture. And the best part? They are incredibly versatile. You can decorate them however your heart desires – from classic red and green sprinkles to intricate royal icing designs. This year, I’m experimenting with a beautiful snowflake theme.
Why this recipe works:
- The Butter: The high butter content is crucial for achieving that melt-in-your-mouth texture. Don't skimp on this ingredient! I prefer salted butter, but feel free to use unsalted if that’s what you have on hand.
- The Chilling: Chilling the dough is an absolutely essential step. It prevents the cookies from spreading too thin during baking and helps maintain their shape. Trust me on this one. At least three hours in the refrigerator is a must, otherwise, you'll end up with flat, sad cookies.
- Baking Time: Keep a close eye on your cookies while they're baking. You want them to be golden brown around the edges, but not overly browned. Over-baking will result in dry, hard cookies. A few minutes less than you might think is perfect.
- The Decorating: This is where the fun really begins! Get creative and let your imagination run wild. Involve the kids! Making and decorating cookies is a wonderful family activity that creates lasting memories. It’s also very stress-relieving and joyful.
Beyond the recipe itself, this is a time for reflection on the year. It's a time for gratitude and for connecting with loved ones. The simple act of baking cookies, sharing them with friends and family, brings a sense of warmth and togetherness that’s hard to replicate. Every time I bake these cookies, I’m transported back to my childhood, filled with the joyous memories of holidays past. And I hope that by sharing this recipe, I can help create new traditions and memories for you and your loved ones.
So, gather your ingredients, put on some festive music, and get ready to bake up a batch of these irresistible holiday sugar cookies. They're the perfect treat to share with friends, family, neighbors, or even to simply enjoy by yourself with a cup of hot cocoa. The possibilities are endless!
Happy Holidays!
