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Christmas Shortbread Cookies are the EASIEST cookie to make for the holidays. The dough comes together in the food processor, and with 5 simple ingredients, it’s perfect for your holiday cookie platters! Plus you can add variety with different decoration ideas. Makes 2 dozen.
Christmas shortbread cookies are just classic. They are so simple to make, and to me, they are better than the classic sugar cookie.
I personally prefer to make Christmas shortbread cookies instead of Christmas sugar cookies for cutout cookies!
The flavor is so delightfully buttery and they aren’t as sweet as the traditional sugar cookie.
Sugar cookie lovers, please don’t be mad at me for this LOL.
When it comes to making cookie boxes and sending baked gifts, these cookies are just what you need to make! Instead of making different types of cookies (because I just don’t have that kind of time right now), I make a GIANT batch of these Christmas shortbread cookies.
Then I get creative with decorations. You can vary up the flavor by using different types of chocolate or icing on top. Try out different sprinkles! Add some crushed candy canes or other candies. You can even roast and chop nuts for more flavor variation. The possibilities are just endless.
This year, I am honored to be a part of The Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange (something I missed out on last year because BABY)! This is a week led by my lovely friend Erin from The Speckled Palate. This year we are baking up a storm, and I wanted to bring your attention to an amazing cause!
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer. Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $17 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.
With cancer being the #1 cause of death by disease of children in the U.S., it’s so important to show our support and help Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fund research for new, improved and less toxic treatment options for kids.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is in a matching window with their friends at OXO, who will be matching every dollar raised through the end of 2021, up to $100,000. Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page! So here’s a link to this year’s fundraising page – whether it’s $1 or $100, every single dollar counts. Thank you for your support with this effort!
Other yummy Christmas cookie recipes: Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars | Italian Rainbow Cookies | Gingerbread Cookies with Eggnog Cream Filling | White Chocolate Dipped Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
this recipe’s must-haves
All you need to make the dough for this recipe is a food processor! Oh, and some measuring cups and measuring spoons of course.
For baking, grab your favorite half sheet baking pan (I usually use two!) and silicone mats.
here’s how to make Christmas shortbread cookies!
Make Dough
Add all five ingredients for the dough to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs, then process on low until the dough begins to clump together.
Roll & Cut
Dump the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for a few minutes until the dough comes together. It should be smooth and pliable. If your dough feels dry still, add about 1 tsp of heavy cream to help out.
Roll the dough to 1/2-inch thick and cut out cookies with your favorite cookie cutters! I like to make a variety, personally. Re-roll any remaining scraps and cut out cookies. Repeat until all the dough has been used.
Bake
Place the cookies on lined baking sheets and bake for about 20-25 minutes. The edges should JUST be turning golden. They will still feel soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
Decorate
Decorate however you like! Dip in chocolate, sprinkle with nuts, frost with royal icing, or just leave them plain.
Need some more inspiration for sweet treats? Check out my dessert recipe page!
can I make the dough ahead of time?
Christmas shortbread cookies are PERFECT for making ahead of time! I recommend rolling the dough out and cutting out the cookies before you store them in the refrigerator or freeze them.
For the fridge, the cookies can be stored (covered) for up to 3 days before baking. It may take a few more minutes to bake through after being chilled.
To freeze them, add to a platter or baking sheet, then freeze for 2 hours before adding to a freezer bag. They can be stored like this for up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake, simple bake from frozen, making sure to add on more time to the baking time.
Christmas Shortbread Cookies
These holiday cookies are great for cookie swaps, parties and also for shipping to out of state friends and family.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup chilled butter, cut up into chunks
- 1 tsp heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Decorations (optional): melted dark/milk/white chocolate, sprinkles, chopped nuts, crushed candy canes or other candies, royal icing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Line two baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
- Add flour, sugar, butter, heavy cream, and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Process on low speed until the mixture clumps together.
- Remove dough from the processor and knead on a lightly floured surface until the dough is smooth, approximately 3 minutes. If the dough is too dry, you can add a dash of heavy cream (I need this at higher altitudes or drier climates generally). Roll out the dough until it is 1/2" thick. Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out the cookies! Press together the scraps to roll them out and cut until you run out of dough.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden brown. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature. They can also be stored in the fridge!
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Angie says
Megan
Thank you SO much for the precious info & for getting right to the point. Most sites don’t do that. They tend to drag on and on with too much unnecessary stuff. Such as what their kids like or don’t like to eat. How grandma could make the recipe with her eyes closed, and so on & so on. I love that you touch on baking for a cause, especially at Christmastime.
Your site is laid out cleanly. No annoying pop-up ads; and the links/tabs to jump right to the recipe or print recipe are thoughtful options.
Amazingly, you told me exactly what I needed to know. Such as short bread vs sugar cookies for cutouts. How to freeze raw cutouts (great tip). How long the dough will keep in refrigerator.
I NEVER leave messages like this, but I just had to tell how refreshing it was to come across a no nonsense online recipe. Now, I’m going to go make some short bread ccookies.
Merry Christmas to you and your family🎄🎄
Angie
Meghan Y. says
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words!! It means so much to read comments like these 😍 merry Christmas!