Santa’s Magic Slice-And-Bake Cookies Recipe: Jolly Holiday Treats

Whipping up santa slice-and-bake cookies brings instant holiday cheer to your kitchen!

Festive baking doesn’t require complicated techniques or fancy equipment.

Sweet memories start with simple ingredients and a playful approach.

Crisp edges and soft centers make these treats irresistible for everyone.

Kids absolutely love helping roll and decorate these delightful cookies.

Sprinkles and colorful icing add magic to each tasty bite.

Slice-and-Bake Cookies That Shape Santa’s Cheer

• Prep-Ahead Perfection: Easily make the dough in advance and store in the refrigerator, allowing busy bakers to have fresh cookies ready anytime.
• Kid-Friendly Decorating: Decorating Santa cookies becomes a fun family activity where children can get creative with icing and sprinkles.
• Simple Slice-and-Bake Magic: No complicated rolling or cutting techniques required – just slice the chilled dough and pop into the oven for delightful, festive treats.
• Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Dessert: These cookies are perfect for Christmas parties, family gatherings, or as sweet gifts that bring instant joy and festive cheer.

Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies Ingredients

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor to the cookie base.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender texture.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients and adds moisture.
• Flour: Creates the basic structure of the cookie.

• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the cookies.

• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, sweet flavor to the dough.
• Icing, Sprinkles: Creates festive Santa decoration for the cookies.

• Plastic Wrap: Used for chilling the dough.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents cookies from sticking to the baking sheet.

Baking Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies with Ease

Step 1: Whip Up the Base

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and transform butter and sugar into a cloud-like, fluffy mixture. Gently incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, blending until smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Create Dry Powder Blend

In a separate bowl, dance your whisk through flour, baking powder, and salt, ensuring a light and even distribution of ingredients.

Step 3: Merge Wet and Dry Worlds

Slowly introduce the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring with care until a unified dough emerges.

Step 4: Shape and Chill

Roll the dough into a perfect log, swaddle it in plastic wrap, and tuck it into the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour to firm up and develop rich flavors.

Step 5: Slice and Bake Magic

Warm the oven to 350°F. Carefully slice the chilled log into delicate 1/4-inch rounds and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until edges transform to a gentle golden hue, approximately 8-10 minutes.

Step 6: Cool and Rest

Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet briefly, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Step 7: Create Santa’s Personality

• White icing for beard
• Red icing for hat
• Small details for face

Let decorations set before serving these delightful holiday treats.

Slice-and-Bake Tips for Santa Cookie Magic

• Roll Evenly: Use a ruler or measuring tape to ensure uniform dough thickness for consistent baking and professional-looking cookies.
• Prevent Spreading: Chill the shaped dough log for at least 2 hours to help cookies maintain their shape and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
• Swap Ingredients Easily: Replace butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version or use gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies suitable for different dietary needs.
• Master Decoration Technique: Use a piping bag with a small round tip for precise icing details, creating clean and adorable Santa faces on each cookie.
• Store Smartly: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze decorated cookies between parchment layers for longer storage.

Store Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies Perfectly

• Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Place cookies in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, keeping them flat. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Warm cookies gently in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving to maintain texture.
• If cookies become slightly soft, crisp them up by baking for 2-3 minutes in a low-temperature oven.

Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies Snack Ideas

• Elevate Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies Pairing
• Warm Cocoa Companion: Dunk these festive cookies into rich, creamy hot chocolate topped with marshmallows for the ultimate holiday comfort experience.
• Holiday Spice Chai Latte: Complement the buttery cookie sweetness with a warm, spiced chai latte that echoes the cookie's festive spirit.
• Creamy Vanilla Eggnog: Serve alongside chilled eggnog for a classic Christmas treat that balances the cookie's crisp texture with smooth, nutmeg-infused richness.
• Festive Peppermint Mocha: Enjoy with a peppermint mocha that adds a cool, minty contrast to the cookie's sweet buttery flavor.

Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookie Styles

• Gluten-Free Santa Cookies: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same texture and taste for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Vegan Holiday Slice-and-Bake: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of a regular egg, and select dairy-free vanilla extract for a plant-based version.
• Low-Sugar Christmas Cookies: Use a sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener, reducing overall sugar content while maintaining the festive cookie flavor.
• Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies: Add mini chocolate chips to the dough before chilling, creating a delightful chocolatey variation that kids will love.

FAQs

• What tools do I need to make these Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies?

You’ll need a large mixing bowl, electric mixer or whisk, measuring cups and spoons, baking sheet, parchment paper, plastic wrap, and a wire cooling rack.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough log up to 3 days in advance and keep it refrigerated. You can also freeze the dough log for up to 2 months, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag.

• How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for lightly golden edges and a set center. The cookies should be pale but not brown. When you remove them from the oven, they’ll still be soft but will firm up as they cool.

• What kind of icing works best for decorating?

Royal icing or store-bought decorating icing works great. Choose white for the beard, red for the hat, and pink or tan for the face. Use small piping bags or squeeze bottles for precise decorating.

Santa Slice-And-Bake Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Festive Santa slice-and-bake cookies bring holiday cheer straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Cheerful red and white swirled shortbread treats promise delightful smiles and sweet memories for Christmas celebrations.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar

Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Transform softened butter and sugar into a creamy, airy mixture using an electric mixer, ensuring a smooth, pale consistency. Incorporate egg and vanilla, blending until thoroughly integrated.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate vessel, creating a uniform dry ingredient base. Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a cohesive dough forms.
3. Mold the dough into a cylindrical log, carefully wrapping it in plastic film to maintain its shape. Chill the wrapped dough in the refrigerator for a minimum of 60 minutes to firm up and enhance flavor development.
4. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a parchment-lined baking sheet. Unwrap the chilled dough and slice into precise 1/4-inch rounds using a sharp knife. Arrange cookie slices with slight spacing on the prepared baking surface.
5. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as an indicator of doneness. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet briefly to set their structure before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
6. Once completely cooled, transform the plain cookies into festive Santa designs. Use white and red icing to craft his signature hat, facial features, and fluffy beard. Embellish with sprinkles for added whimsy and texture. Let decorations set completely before serving.

Notes

• Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
• Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better cookie texture.
• Adjust slice thickness consistently to ensure even baking and uniform cookie appearance.
• Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version without compromising taste.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 160
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg