Classic Christmas Shortbread Cookies made with 4 ingredients. These cookies are soft and will melt right in your mouth! Decorate with icing and holiday sprinkles on top!
Classic Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe
This recipe makes classic shortbread cookies, perfect for decorating at Christmas. Shortbread cookies, like these and my Pistachio Shortbread Cookies are a personal favorite because they aren’t overly sweet. These cookies taste buttery and will melt in your mouth.
Instead of stressing out worrying about decorating the most beautiful cookies, I’m providing my simple decorating tips – all you need is a tube of icing and sprinkles!
I hope you all enjoy these Christmas Shortbread Cookies! Love shortbread cok
You Need 4 Ingredients
These are simple tasty cookies that don’t require many ingredients. In fact, you probably already have everything in your kitchen. Decorating them is completely optional, but I always think sprinkles make everything better!
- butter (salted)
- sugar
- vanilla
- flour
- icing, sprinkles (for optional decorating)
How to Easily Decorate Cookies
I am definitely not a cookie decorating pro, so I try to keep things simple. I found that a tube of white decorating icing makes the most simple cookie decorating look good. Spread a little icing on top, add some sprinkles and be amazed by how pretty these cookies become!
Add a little squiggle line of icing on top of each cookie. The icing comes in 4 ounce tubes and all colors. I like to keep it simple with white icing.
Use a butter knife to gently spread the icing around.
Add sprinkles on top of each cookie. Use whatever color you like. I like doing some red, some green, and some a combo. Tip: buy sprinkles in bulk around the holidays to save money as those little jars add up!
Gently press down on the sprinkles with a spatula. This will keep the sprinkles in place.
And just like that your cookies are decorated! Job well done! 🙂
Cookies FAQ
Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes, you can make the dough up to 3 days in advance, keeping it in the refrigerator.
Can I use cookie cutters? Yes, you can use cookie cutters for this recipe. Make sure to refrigerate the dough for at least one hour before rolling out.
How else can I decorate them? Instead of icing and sprinkles, you can sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Or if you love chocolate, dip half of each cookie into melted chocolate for a beautiful cookie!
Can I double the recipe? Yes, you can double, triple, or more the recipe.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Cream Cheese Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
- Christmas Cookies to Make With Kids
- Gingerbread Men and Women Cookies
- Russian Tea Cakes
- Soft Gingerbread Cookies
- Easy Sugar Cookies
- M&M Christmas Cookies
- The Best Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookies
- Snowman Peanut Butter Balls
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Christmas Shortbread Cookies
PrintIngredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
For the icing:
- 1 Tube of White Decorating Icing
- Red, Green, White Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add butter, sugar and vanilla into large bowl, mixing with electric hand mixer until fluffy. Add flour and continue mixing.
- Spray baking sheets with nonstick spray or use silicone baking mats. Scoop 2 tablespoons of cookie dough from bowl, shape into ball and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all dough is gone, placing cookies about 2 inches apart. Using a spatula gently press down on each cookie to flatten it a little.
- Bake in the oven for 12-13 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before decorating.
Decorating:
- Squeeze a little line of icing on top of each cookie. Use a butter knife to gently spread out the icing, covering the top of each cookie. Add sprinkles on top of each, gently using a spatula to press down so the sprinkles stick.
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