These Soft Christmas Cookies are buttery, tender, and thick with just the right amount of sweetness. They have a soft texture that stays delicious after cooling, making them perfect for holiday cookie boxes, Christmas parties, or an easy baking day with the family.
The dough is simple to prepare and can be decorated with colorful icing for a festive finish. Whether you keep them plain or add red, green, and white decorations, these cookies are sure to bring plenty of Christmas cheer to the dessert table.
🛒 Ingredients
Soft Cookie Dough
- 2¾ cups (340g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk
Simple Christmas Icing — Optional
- 1½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red, green, and white food coloring
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer.
2. Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the egg and egg yolk until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
3. Add the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, folding gently until a soft dough forms.
4. Add the Milk
Mix in the milk until the dough is soft and tender. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the cookies less tender.
5. Chill the Dough
Cover the dough and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes. Chilling helps the cookies hold their shape while baking.
6. Shape the Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop the dough into portions or roll it into balls. Place the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and gently flatten each cookie slightly.
7. Bake
Bake until the edges are set but the cookies are still pale, about 9–12 minutes, depending on their size. Be careful not to overbake them—the centers should remain soft.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
🎨 Make the Christmas Icing
In a small bowl, whisk the powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of milk or water and the vanilla. Add a little more liquid if needed until you reach your desired consistency.
Divide the icing between small bowls and tint with red, green, and white food coloring. Decorate the completely cooled cookies and allow the icing to set before serving or packaging.
⭐ Tips for Soft Christmas Cookies
- Use softened butter: Room-temperature butter creams more easily with the sugar and helps create a tender texture.
- Don’t overmix the dough: Mix just until the ingredients come together.
- Chill before baking: This helps the cookies maintain their shape.
- Don’t overbake: The cookies should look set around the edges while remaining pale and soft.
- Cool before decorating: Warm cookies can cause the icing to melt or spread.
🎄 Perfect for Christmas
These cookies are ideal for Christmas cookie boxes, holiday dessert tables, cookie exchanges, and homemade gifts. For an extra festive look, use different icing colors and add holiday sprinkles while the icing is still wet.
🧊 Storage
Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If decorated with icing, allow the icing to fully set before stacking the cookies.
📋 Recipe Information
Prep Time: 30 minutes, plus chilling
Bake Time: 9–12 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes
Yield: About 24 cookies, depending on size
Category: Cookies & Desserts
Cuisine: American
❤️ Final Thoughts
These Best Soft Christmas Cookies are everything you want in a holiday cookie—soft, buttery, thick, and easy to decorate. The simple dough makes a wonderful base for festive icing, allowing you to customize the cookies for any Christmas celebration.
Whether you’re filling cookie tins for friends and family or simply enjoying a cozy afternoon of holiday baking, these cookies are a delicious Christmas tradition in the making.