This delightful Festive Shortbread Cookies recipe comes together in about 30 minutes and is all about that hands-on joy of baking! Perfect for holiday gatherings, your family will love these sweet treats! The best part? You can switch up the flavors or sprinkles based on what you have at home. It’s like a clean-out-the pantry recipe for those post-holiday cooking adventures!
Ingredient Breakdown
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature. Trust me, cutting through cold butter is not fun. Softened equals happy baking!
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar. This is where that sweet magic happens, smooth and lovely.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour. The backbone of our cookies! It gives them that perfect crumbly texture.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt. A couple pinches of salt really brings out the sweetness and flavor, don’t skip it!
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pure, glorious vanilla.
- Colorful buttercream icing. Optional but why not add a bit of fun?
- Sprinkles for decoration. Because EVERY cookie should look festive!
Ingredient Swaps
- Butter: If you’re trying to lighten things up, you could use a quality margarine. But let’s be honest: butter is king.
- Powdered Sugar: If you don’t have powdered sugar, you could blend granulated sugar in a blender until super fine. It’s not as silky, but it works!
- Flour: You could substitute with almond flour for a gluten-free option. Just note, the texture might change a bit.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Let’s fill your kitchen with that amazing cookie smell! Is there anything better?
Cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl until it’s light, fluffy, and looks like a cloud of happiness. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer or kitchen aid.
Gradually add in the flour and salt, mixing until the dough comes together. You might want to switch to a spatula for this, let’s keep the cookie dough in the bowl, shall we?
Stir in the vanilla extract. The aroma oh, wow! It’s like a warm hug.
Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch) and flatten them slightly. It’s like a fun mini workout, not to mention super satisfying!
Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Give them a bit of space they need room to spread their magical goodness.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. The kitchen is basically a cozy cookie factory at this point!
Let the cookies cool completely on the sheet before you start decorating. Patience is a virtue, my friend!
Decorate with buttercream icing and colorful sprinkles. Go wild here! I like to let the kids sprinkle because let’s be honest, it’s as much about the joy of decorating as it is about the final product!
Serve at your festive gatherings and enjoy! It’s all about sharing those smiles, each bite of these festive delights is pure joy!
Why I Love This Recipe
This is my go-to recipe whenever I need a bit of comfort food on a plate. Seriously, it’s a cozy hug for your taste buds! The best part is how quickly it comes together, perfect for when you’re juggling kids and life! My daughter loves to help me decorate the cookies; it’s a sweet bonding moment, and I get a little messy joy with her too. Plus, you can literally take whatever ingredients you have on hand; it’s literally foolproof. Just diving in, slathering icing, and tossing sprinkles is an absolute joy!
If you loved these festive cookies, be sure to check out my Peanut Butter Bars, my White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels, or my Carrot Cake Overnight Oats! These are all great, too, I promise!
Tips for Success
Quick & Easy
It comes together in under 30 minutes! Seriously, perfect for those last-minute bake sales or a surprise gathering!
Comfort Food
These cookies are loaded with tons of flavor and bring a sense of nostalgia. You’re not just baking cookies; you’re creating memories.
Customizable
This recipe is so versatile! You can use whatever ingredients you have on hand different extracts, chocolate chips, or even nuts. You name it!
Make-Ahead Friendly
You can prepare the dough ahead of time, refrigerate it for up to 3 days, and bake it fresh before your event. Imagine the delicious smell wafting through your home!
Crowd-Pleaser
Trust me, these are guaranteed to win over any crowd. The whole family will love them!
Serving & Storage Tips
How to Serve This Recipe
Serve these cookies warm with a cold glass of milk or your favorite hot chocolate. They are also excellent as part of a dessert platter during the holidays!
Storage
If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers (which is a real question!), they’ll keep well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 1 week. Just think about that delightful comfort whenever you crack that container open!
Reheating Instructions
To reheat, pop them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. Soft, gooey goodness returns!
Freezer Friendly
Yes! You can freeze these cookies! Just place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a zip-top bag. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. You’ll thank yourself later!
Final Thoughts
Cooking should be fun and memorable, and nothing brings a family together like baking cookies! These Festive Shortbread Cookies promise to do just that, merging delicious flavor with joyful memories. With simple ingredients and a straightforward process, these delightful treats will become a staple in your baking repertoire! So, grab your apron, turn on that festive playlist, and let’s get baking! For more Recipes Follow Us in our Pinterest.
Print
Quick and Easy Festive Shortbread Cookies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delightful Festive Shortbread Cookies perfect for holiday gatherings. Quick, customizable, and full of fun!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Colorful buttercream icing (optional)
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add in the flour and salt until the dough comes together.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and flatten slightly.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, giving space to spread.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cool completely on the sheet before decorating.
- Decorate with buttercream icing and sprinkles.
- Serve and enjoy at festive gatherings!
Notes
This recipe is versatile—switch up the flavors and decorations based on what you have at home. Perfect for creating memories with family while baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
