Slice & Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Slice & Bake Christmas Cookies are a festive and convenient treat perfect for the holiday season. These buttery, nutty cookies studded with chocolate chips or dried cranberries are easy to prepare in advance and bake fresh whenever you want a sweet bite.

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
• 1 cup chocolate chips or dried cranberries
• Sprinkles or colored sugar (for decoration)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy.
4. Step 4: Add the egg to the butter-sugar mixture and mix until fully combined. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
5. Step 5: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
6. Step 6: Fold in the chopped nuts and chocolate chips or dried cranberries until evenly distributed.
7. Step 7: Divide the dough into two portions. Roll each into a 2-inch diameter log on plastic wrap, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
8. Step 8: Remove the dough logs from the refrigerator and preheat the oven again to 350°F (175°C).
9. Step 9: Slice the logs into 1/4-inch thick cookies and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets with space between each cookie.
10. Step 10: Sprinkle colored sugar or festive sprinkles on top, if desired.
11. Step 11: Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden, watching carefully to prevent overbaking.
12. Step 12: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

• For a nut-free option, omit the nuts and add extra chocolate chips or dried fruit.
• Chilling the dough longer than 2 hours can improve slicing and flavor development.
• Try using orange or lemon zest in place of almond extract for a citrus twist.
• Decorate with holiday-themed sprinkles or colored sugar to make the cookies extra festive.

Storage

Store the baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow frozen cookies to thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in a low oven.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before slicing and baking. You can also freeze the dough logs for up to 3 months; just thaw in the refrigerator before slicing.

What if I don’t have almond extract?

If you don’t have almond extract, you can omit it or substitute with an equal amount of vanilla extract. The cookies will still be delicious and flavorful.

Slice & Bake Christmas Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 68 reviews

These classic Slice & Bake Christmas Cookies are perfect for the holiday season. They are buttery, sweet, and studded with your choice of nuts and either chocolate chips or dried cranberries, with optional festive sprinkles for decoration. The dough is chilled and then sliced into perfect rounds for easy baking and uniform cookies that are deliciously crisp around the edges and tender inside.

• Author: lina
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours 32 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 48 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Add-ins & Decoration

• 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
• 1 cup chocolate chips or dried cranberries
• Sprinkles or colored sugar (for decoration)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside to prepare for baking.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. Set aside this dry mixture.
3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes a few minutes.
4. Add Egg and Extracts: Add the egg into the butter-sugar mixture and blend well until fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts to infuse flavor.
5. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the dough tender.
6. Fold in Add-ins: Use a spatula to fold chopped nuts and chocolate chips or dried cranberries evenly throughout the dough.
7. Form Dough Logs: Divide the dough into two equal portions. Place each on a large sheet of plastic wrap and roll into approximately 2-inch diameter logs. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm for easy slicing.
8. Preheat Oven Again: Once chilled and firm, remove dough from the refrigerator and preheat the oven again to 350°F (175°C).
9. Slice and Arrange Cookies: Slice the chilled dough logs into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place each cookie on the prepared baking sheets with space between them to allow spreading.
10. Add Decoration: Optionally, sprinkle colored sugar or festive sprinkles on top of each cookie to add a holiday touch.
11. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden. Watch carefully to prevent overbaking.
12. Cool the Cookies: Remove baking sheets from the oven and let cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, helping them set properly.

Notes

• Be sure not to overmix the dough once the flour is added to maintain a tender cookie texture.
• Chilling the dough logs is crucial for easy slicing and helps prevent spreading during baking.
• You can substitute nuts and add-ins based on preference or dietary restrictions.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week for best freshness.
• These cookies can be frozen before or after baking for longer storage.

Keywords: slice and bake cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, chocolate chip cookies, nut cookies, easy holiday baking