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Easy Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 109 reviews

This Easy Soft Christmas Cookie Recipe yields tender, buttery cookies with a subtle cream cheese tang, perfect for holiday celebrations. Featuring a blend of vanilla and almond extracts, these festive cookies are topped with colorful red and green sanding sugar for a cheerful finish. Simple to prepare and irresistibly soft, they make a delightful treat for family and friends during the Christmas season.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 stick salted butter, softened (113g)
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened (57g)
  • 1½ cups sugar (300g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

Dry Ingredients

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour (312g)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda (5g)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (1.5g)

Topping

  • Red & Green sanding sugar (as needed for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and almond extracts, ensuring everything is well combined.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
  3. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix to maintain the soft texture.
  4. Chill the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, which helps in shaping the cookies and maintaining their soft texture during baking.
  5. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
  6. Shape and Decorate Cookies: Scoop about one tablespoon of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball in red and green sanding sugar to coat the outside, then place on prepared baking sheets spaced about 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set but the centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking to preserve their chewy texture.
  8. Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container to keep them soft.

Notes

  • For extra softness, you can substitute a portion of the all-purpose flour with cake flour.
  • If you want a stronger almond flavor, increase the almond extract slightly, but avoid overpowering the vanilla.
  • Make sure not to overbake the cookies as they will continue to firm up while cooling.
  • These cookies freeze well; freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
  • You can substitute sanding sugar with colored sprinkles if preferred.

Keywords: soft Christmas cookies, easy Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, cream cheese cookies, festive cookies, sugar cookies

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/easy-soft-christmas-cookies-recipe/