Description
These Soft Christmas Cookies offer a festive and delightful treat perfect for any holiday celebration. Featuring a blend of warm spices and a tender crumb, these cookies are enriched with sour cream for extra softness and topped with a colorful, sweet icing that adds a cheerful holiday touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Decorations and Icing
- 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles or colored sugar for decorating
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. This evenly distributes the leavening agents and spices for consistent flavor.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, shortening, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is fluffy and light in color. This step incorporates air, contributing to the cookie’s soft texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, mixing until incorporated. This builds the structure and flavor of the dough.
- Incorporate Sour Cream: Stir in the sour cream until the batter is smooth and creamy. The sour cream adds moisture and tenderness to the cookies.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough.
- Shape Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are set but still soft to the touch. Avoid overbaking to retain their softness.
- Cool: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely before decorating to ensure the icing sets properly.
- Prepare Icing: Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add food coloring if desired to create festive colors.
- Decorate Cookies: Spread the icing on the cooled cookies and immediately sprinkle with holiday sprinkles or colored sugar for a festive finish.
Notes
- For extra festive flair, divide the icing into small bowls and tint each with different holiday colors before decorating.
- These cookies stay soft for several days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
