Ah, the holiday season! There’s just something magical about filling your kitchen with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies. One of my absolute favorites are these round Christmas cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles. Trust me, there’s nothing quite like seeing those vibrant colors pop against the soft, golden cookies! Baking these treats isn’t just about the eating—it’s about the joy of creating something beautiful that brings people together. Whether you’re making them for a festive gathering, a cookie swap, or just to indulge in some holiday cheer, these cookies will surely bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Let’s dive into the fun of baking!
Ingredients for Round Christmas Cookies Decorated
Gather these simple ingredients to create your festive round Christmas cookies! Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect texture and flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour – This is the foundation of your cookies, giving them structure and a delightful chew.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda – This helps your cookies rise and become fluffy.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder – A little extra lift to make your cookies just right!
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened – Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy creaming with the sugar.
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar – Sweetness is key, and this will give you those beautifully golden edges.
- 1 egg – This binds everything together and adds richness.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – For that classic cookie flavor.
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract – This adds a lovely, subtle nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with vanilla.
- 3 cups powdered sugar – Essential for making your icing sweet and dreamy.
- 1/4 cup milk – This helps to achieve the right consistency for your icing.
- Food coloring – Get creative! Use your favorite colors to make these cookies festive.
- Sprinkles for decoration – Because what’s a decorated cookie without a little sparkle?
How to Prepare Round Christmas Cookies Decorated
Getting ready to bake these delightful round Christmas cookies is a breeze! Follow my simple steps, and you’ll have a plateful of festive treats in no time. Here’s how to do it:
Step-by-Step Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This is crucial for getting those cookies perfectly golden!
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. Set this aside for later.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter and 1 1/2 cups of white sugar until it’s light and fluffy. I love this step because it smells amazing!
- Next, beat in 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract until everything is well combined.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients from your first bowl until a soft dough forms. This part is so satisfying!
- Now, roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass for that perfect cookie shape.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Keep an eye on them—you want them just right!
- Once baked, let them cool on wire racks. This cooling time is vital for the icing to sit nicely later on.
- Finally, prepare your icing by mixing 3 cups of powdered sugar with 1/4 cup of milk. Add food coloring to create a festive palette before decorating your cookies with icing and sprinkles.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick preparation time—whip up a batch in just 30 minutes!
- Simple and fun decorating process that lets your creativity shine.
- Perfectly festive, making them great for holiday gatherings and cookie swaps.
- Soft, buttery texture that melts in your mouth—absolutely irresistible!
- Customizable with different colors and sprinkles for endless festive variations.
Tips for Success
To ensure your round Christmas cookies come out perfectly every time, here are a few pro tips I swear by! First, keep an eye on your baking time; ovens can vary, so check your cookies around the 8-minute mark. You want them just golden on the edges but still soft in the center. For the icing, aim for a consistency that’s thick enough to hold its shape but still smooth enough to drizzle. If it’s too runny, just add a bit more powdered sugar!
When decorating, have fun with it! Use piping bags for intricate designs, or simply dip the tops in icing for a more rustic look. Don’t forget to add sprinkles right after icing while it’s still wet, so they stick beautifully. Trust me, these little details will make your cookies the star of the holiday table!
Nutritional Information
These delightful round Christmas cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles are not just a feast for the eyes but also come with nutritional details to keep in mind! Each cookie is approximately 150 calories, with 6g of fat, 10g of sugar, and 1g of protein. Remember, these values are estimates and can vary based on the specific ingredients you use. Enjoy them in moderation as part of your festive celebrations!
FAQ Section
Can I use different extracts for flavor?
Absolutely! While I love the combination of vanilla and almond extracts, you can experiment with others like lemon or peppermint for a unique twist. Just remember to adjust the quantity to suit your taste!
How should I store my decorated cookies?
To keep your round Christmas cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay delicious for up to a week. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze the undecorated cookies and frost them fresh when you’re ready to serve!
What can I use instead of food coloring?
If you prefer a more natural option, you can use fruit or vegetable purees for coloring. For example, beet juice gives a lovely pink hue, while spinach puree can add green. Just be aware that this may slightly alter the flavor.
Can I make the dough in advance?
Yes! You can prepare the cookie dough ahead of time. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before rolling.
What if my icing is too thick?
If your icing turns out too thick, just add a tiny bit of milk, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. It should be smooth enough to drizzle but thick enough to hold its shape when piped.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
To keep your round Christmas cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay delicious for up to a week—if they last that long! If you have any leftovers (which is rare, trust me!), you can freeze the undecorated cookies. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy them, let them thaw at room temperature and frost them fresh. No need for reheating—these cookies are best enjoyed as is!
Z nadrukami
Round Christmas Cookies Decorated to Spark Joy and Delight
- Całkowity Czas: 30 minutes
- Ustępować: 24 cookies 1x
- Dieta: Wegańskie
Opis
Round Christmas cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles.
Składniki
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- Food coloring
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instrukcje
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth.
- Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter mixture.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
- Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place on baking sheets.
- Flatten each ball slightly with a glass.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden.
- Cool on wire racks.
- Prepare icing by mixing powdered sugar and milk, add food coloring.
- Decorate cookies with icing and sprinkles.
Uwagi
- Store cookies in an airtight container.
- Adjust food coloring as desired for different shades.
- Use different shapes for variety.
- Czas Przygotowania: 20 minutes
- Czas gotowania: 10 minutes
- Kategoria: Dessert
- Sposób: Baking
- Kuchnia: American
Zasilanie
- Wielkość porcji: 1 cookie
- Kalorie: 150
- Cukier: 10g
- Sód: 50mg
- Kwasy: 6g
- Nasycony tłuszcz: 4g
- Tłuszcze Nienasycone: 2g
- Tłuszcze trans: 0g
- Węglowodany: 22g
- Włókno: 0g
- Białko: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Słowa kluczowe: Christmas cookies, decorated cookies, round cookies
