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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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