Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Soft Christmas cookies feel like edible snowflakes with sugar-sparkled joy tucked inside. They melt in your mouth like a carol sung by the fireplace and taste like the season giving you a warm hug. These cookies are tender, buttery, and perfect for decorating with little hands or grown-ups who still believe in magic. Bake a batch, share them, or nibble them slowly while watching lights twinkle outside your window.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:
• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 4 tablespoons milk

For the Icing:
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven
   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients
   In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. Cream Butter and Sugar
   In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract and mix until smooth.

4. Combine Ingredients
   Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture a little at a time, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. If the dough feels sticky, let it rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

5. Roll and Shape
   Lightly flour your surface. Roll dough to roughly ¼-inch thickness and cut into festive holiday shapes. Lay cookies on prepared baking sheets.

6. Bake
   Bake 6-8 minutes, just until the edges start to turn a gentle gold. Cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool fully.

7. Make the Icing
   Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Tint with food coloring if you want cheerful holiday colors.

8. Decorate
   Spread or pipe icing on cooled cookies. Toss sprinkles like tiny winter confetti if your heart says yes.

Conclusion

And there you go: soft Christmas cookies that taste like cozy nights, happy hearts, and childhood wonder wrapped in sweetness. Stack them on plates for neighbors, leave a few for Santa, or keep them all for yourself like a tiny holiday treasure. Each bite is a soft reminder that simple moments can feel magical. Happy baking and merry nibbling!