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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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/slice-and-bake-christmas-cookies-recipe/