Easy Christmas Butter Cookies
Buttery, soft Christmas butter cookies with glossy royal icing. Cute, cozy, and easy to decorate for cookie exchanges, gifting, or an Insta-worthy holiday tray.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Christmas tree cookie cutter
Royal Icing:
- 3 egg whites
- 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
To Decorate
- water based gel red food colouring
- water based gel green food colouring
Instructions
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In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, then mix to combine.
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Mix in flour until just incorporated. Roll the dough into a disc, cover, and chill for at least 1 hour.
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On a floured surface, roll dough to ⅛ inch. Cut tree shapes with a cookie cutter and rectangles with a knife.
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Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, until edges just turn golden. Cool completely.
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Beat egg whites and confectioners’ sugar until glossy. Divide, tint red and green, and keep covered.
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Transfer icing to piping bags, decorate cookies, and let dry 6-8 hours or overnight.
Recipe Notes
• Chill the dough for at least an hour for best shape.
• Use gel coloring so your icing doesn’t get watery.
• Line baking sheets with parchment for easy cleanup.
• Perfect for cookie exchanges or gifting.