Description
Santa’s favorite Christmas stocking sugar cookies bring festive cheer to holiday gatherings with delightful sweetness. Crisp edges, rich vanilla flavor, and charming stocking shapes will charm guests and create magical memories for all.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Sweeteners:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Flavor Enhancers and Stabilizers:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or almond extract)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Create a smooth, homogeneous butter and sugar mixture by vigorously combining until the texture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes of consistent mixing.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until the mixture achieves a uniform consistency.
- In a separate mixing vessel, thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, and salt using a whisk to eliminate potential lumps.
- Gradually integrate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a cohesive dough forms, ensuring no dry patches remain.
- Segment the dough into manageable portions, encase each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to enhance flavor development and facilitate easier handling.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a baking surface with parchment paper.
- On a lightly dusted work surface, roll the chilled dough to a quarter-inch thickness, using gentle, even pressure to maintain consistency.
- Utilize a stocking-shaped cookie cutter to precisely cut festive cookie silhouettes, transferring each carefully to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as an indication of perfect doneness.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature before embellishment.
- Prepare royal icing by combining powdered sugar and meringue powder, gradually introducing water until the mixture develops soft, pillowy peaks.
- Divide the icing into separate containers, introducing food coloring to create desired hues.
- Using piping icing, meticulously outline the stocking’s shape, permitting the initial layer to set.
- Apply a more fluid icing layer, using a toothpick to spread evenly and eliminate air bubbles.
- Enhance the cookie’s cuff with white icing to simulate a plush, wintery texture.
- While the icing remains wet, sprinkle decorative elements for a festive, whimsical finish.
- Allow cookies to dry completely, ensuring the decorations set firmly before handling or storing.
Notes
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp stocking shape during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and better cookie texture.
- Rotate baking sheet halfway through cooking to ensure even golden-brown edges.
- For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, adding xanthan gum for better binding.
- Work quickly when rolling dough to keep it cold and prevent sticking.
- Store decorated cookies in single layers between parchment paper to preserve delicate icing designs.
- Adjust royal icing consistency by adding tiny amounts of water or powdered sugar for perfect piping and flooding.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg