Quick And Easy Shortbread Christmas Cookies Recipe
What these simple Shortbread Christmas Cookies lack in complexity, they make up with their buttery flavor, crumbly texture, and festive decorations. Make them for your holiday dessert table or cookie tins!
As soon as the holiday season rolls around, I pull out my grandma’s treasured handwritten recipe for Shortbread Christmas Cookies – a card yellow with age and splattered with flour from years of baking.
Baking these simple 4-ingredient cookies has become a holiday tradition in our house. I do the mixing and the kids grab the rolling pin so they can roll out the dough.
My kids beg for their turn to press cookie cutters into the dough, creating shapes such as circles, stars, trees, and hearts that will soon be covered with colorful sprinkles.
Once we are done baking and decorating, the kids LOVE to box them up and share them with neighbors and friends at Christmas time. I’ve also given out these cookies at a holiday cookie exchange before, and they were a hit!
Making these shortbread cookies has become more than just a holiday activity – they’re a treasured family tradition and a means of making new memories every year.
These Shortbread Christmas Cookies are not merely sweet treats, they represent a cherished tradition that connects families across time and generations past and present.
If you want more festive and easy Christmas cookie recipes, try my Easy Vanilla Crinkle Cookies (Cake Mix Recipe!) or Christmas Peanut Butter Cookies.
Ingredients Needed For Shortbread Christmas Cookies
This recipe requires only a few simple ingredients that transform into mouthwatering happiness!
- Butter – softened
- White Sugar – granulated
- Vanilla Extract – lemon, peppermint, and almond are also great options
- All-Purpose Flour – unbleached works great in this recipe
- White Candy Melts – you could also use white chocolate or white almond bark
- Christmas Sprinkles – variety, as desired
- Cookie Cutters
NOTE: For more recipe details, please refer to the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
How To Make Easy Christmas Shortbread Cookies
This easy shortbread cookie recipe will become a new holiday favorite recipe for holiday cookies! Just follow these simple recipe instructions!
Step 1 – Preheat Oven And Prepare Cookie Sheets
Begin by preheating the oven then line two baking sheets with pieces of parchment paper.
Step 2 – Cream Butter And Sugar
Next, add butter and sugar into a large bowl. Beat mixture until creamy. Add vanilla extract and mix.
Step 3 – Add Flour
Slowly add in the flour and beat slowly until just incorporated.
Step 4 – Flatten Dough And Roll It Out
Place the shortbread dough on a lightly floured surface.
Put a piece of parchment paper on top of the dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
Step 5 – Cut Out Cookies
Cut out as many cookies as you can with a round cookie cutter. We usually get around 40 cookies.
Step 6 – Bake
Place cookies on the baking sheet approximately 1″ apart and bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Transfer them to a wire rack
and allow them to cool completely.
Step 7 – Prepare Decorations
Melt the white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl for 20 – 25 seconds. Stir and microwave again if needed.
Step 8 – Decorate Shortbread Christmas Cookies
Carefully dip each cookie halfway into the melted candy melts or melted chocolate. Place the cookie on a cookie sheet.
Decorate the top of each cookie with the sprinkles of your choice.
Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe Notes And Tips
- Allow the candy melts to set and cool before storing or serving.
- If you have the extra time, it is a good idea to chill the cookie dough for about 15 – 20 minutes before rolling out the dough. This prevents the dough from spreading during the cooking process.
- Be sure to press the cookie cutter firmly into the dough when cutting the cookies. If you twist the cookie cutter the dough could become misshapen.
Variations Of Shortbread Christmas Cookies To Try
This easy Christmas cookie recipe is a great recipe for holidays and special occasions – here are some ideas for making perfect shortbread cookies any time of the year!
- Use a variety of Christmas cookie cutters, such as stars, hearts, snowflakes, ornaments, or bells. You could even use a Christmas tree cookie cutter – wouldn’t shortbread Christmas tree cookies be adorable?
- Use almond extract in place of vanilla extract.
- Change up the color of the sprinkles and candy melts to achieve the look you want.
- Make and serve these shortbread Christmas cookies for other holidays such as Valentine’s, Easter, Halloween, or St. Patrick’s Day just by adding the appropriate colors and festive sprinkles.
- Mix festive sprinkles into the cookie dough for an added pop of color and crunch.
- Add in some finely chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for a crunchy texture.
- Use lemon zest, lime zest, or orange zest for a citrusy flavor.
Shortbread Christmas Cookies FAQs
Most definitely! The cookie dough can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
You can also freeze the dough for up to a month. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and then some aluminum foil to keep it from getting freezer burn.
Absolutely! You will need to replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour. You will also need to make sure the candy melts and sprinkles are gluten-free.
They will stay fresh in an airtight container on the counter for 4 – 5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 8 – 10 days in the refrigerator.
Yes, you can! You can freeze the whole ball of dough or you can roll out the dough and cut the shapes before freezing.
When you are ready to bake, remove the dough, allow it to thaw, and bake your delicious Christmas shortbread cookies according to the recipe directions.
More Fun and Delicious Holiday Desserts To Try
If you love these easy cookies, don’t leave without checking out these other holiday desserts!
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Christmas Trees
- Grinch Cookies
- Homemade Decadent Holiday Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
- Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients!
- The Best Super Easy Raspberry Cheesecake Recipe
Pin For Later!
Shortbread Christmas Cookies
These simple Shortbread Christmas Cookies are easy-to-make delights with buttery flavor, crumbly texture, and festive decorations!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups white candy melts or white almond bark
- 1/3 cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract and slowly beat in the flour until just incorporated.
- Fold the dough out onto a floured surface. Place a piece of parchment paper over the dough and roll it out until 1/4" thick.
- Use a round cookie cutter and cut out 40 cookies, re-rolling the dough as needed.
- Place the cut cookies on the prepared baking sheets, about 1" apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool as you melt the white candy melts.
- Melt candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl for 25 seconds. Stir and reheat as needed.
- Dip each cookie individually in the melted candy melts, covering up to one-half of each cookie.
- Place the cookie back on the cookie sheets and decorate with Christmas sprinkles as desired.
- Allow candy melts to set before storing or serving.
