Best Soft Christmas Cookies – Irresistibly Tender, Festive
These Best Soft Christmas Cookies are buttery, fluffy, and wonderfully tender with a delicate vanilla flavor. Perfect for rolling and cutting into festive shapes, they bake up soft and stay moist for days. The dough is easy to prepare and ideal for decorating with icing, sprinkles, or colored sugar. Whether you're making cookies for holiday parties, gifting, or family baking traditions, this recipe delivers beautiful results every time. Their festive appearance and delicious flavor make them a must-have addition to every Christmas dessert table.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Mix in vanilla extract and almond extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
- Add milk and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll the dough to ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut into Christmas shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Cool completely before decorating.
Notes
- Chill the dough for easier rolling.
- Avoid overbaking to maintain softness.
- Use room-temperature butter.
- Parchment paper prevents sticking.
- Decorate only after cooling completely.
- Store in airtight containers.
- Add citrus zest for extra flavor.
- Freeze undecorated cookies for later use.