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Christmas Butter Cookies

Christmas butter cookies are cut-out cookies made from a soft, buttery dough and finished with colored sanding sugar. Chill the dough before rolling, then bake until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
chilling and cooling 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 76
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg large, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 cup colored sanding sugar

Equipment

  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 large baking sheets

Method
 

  1. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.
  3. Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium bowl.
  4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low just until a soft dough forms.
  5. Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a disk.
  6. Wrap the disks and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  7. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  8. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  9. Roll one disk of dough between sheets of parchment to 1/4 inch thick.
  10. Cut the dough into shapes and transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
  11. Reroll the scraps and repeat with the second disk.
  12. Sprinkle the cookies with sanding sugar.
  13. Bake one sheet at a time for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
  14. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
  15. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For clean edges, keep the dough chilled while rolling and cutting. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week; freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months. A plant-based baking butter can work as a dairy-free swap.