Festive Soft Christmas Cookies

These soft Christmas cookies are my holiday tradition brought to life in sweet, pillowy bites. The perfect balance of vanilla sweetness with a tender crumb that melts in your mouth, these cookies have been part of my family's celebration for generations.

I first made these cookies with my grandmother when I was just seven years old. The memory of standing on a kitchen stool, carefully pressing the glass bottom into each dough ball remains one of my most treasured holiday memories.

Ingredients

• All purpose flour creates the perfect soft texture while providing structure
• Margarine delivers a tender crumb and pleasant buttery flavor
• White sugar provides just the right sweetness without overwhelming
• Eggs bind everything together while adding richness
• Vanilla extract brings warmth and that classic cookie aroma
• Baking powder ensures a gentle rise without making them cakey
• Salt balances the sweetness and enhances all other flavors

How To Make Soft Christmas Cookies

Prepare Your Workspace:

Preheat your oven to 350°F and gather all ingredients at room temperature. Having everything ready creates a smooth baking experience and ensures even mixing.

Cream The Base:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the margarine and sugar together for a full 3 minutes until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. This incorporates air into the dough, creating that signature soft texture.

Add Wet Ingredients:

Beat in eggs one at a time, waiting until the first is fully incorporated before adding the second. This prevents curdling and ensures even distribution. Add vanilla and mix until just combined.

Incorporate Dry Ingredients:

Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution. Gradually add to the wet mixture in three additions, mixing gently until just combined. Overmixing will develop gluten and create tough cookies.

Shape And Decorate:

Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place them two inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a drinking glass. The slight pressure creates the perfect thickness while maintaining a soft interior.

Add Festive Touch:

Sprinkle red and green colored sugar over each flattened cookie. The heat of the oven will slightly melt the sugars, creating a sparkling finish that captures holiday cheer.

Bake To Perfection:

Bake for exactly 8 minutes for smaller cookies or up to 10 minutes for larger ones. The cookies should look barely set at the edges but still appear slightly underdone in the centers. This ensures they remain soft after cooling.

My grandmother always said the vanilla extract was the secret ingredient that made these cookies special. She would splurge on the good stuff around the holidays, and I carry on that tradition. The moment I open the bottle, the memories come flooding back of her kitchen filled with holiday music and the warm scent of cookies baking.

Making Ahead and Storage

These soft Christmas cookies maintain their delightful texture for up to a week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. To keep them at maximum freshness, place a slice of bread in the container which will slowly release moisture and keep the cookies soft. For longer storage, these cookies freeze exceptionally well. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to freezer bags. They can be thawed at room temperature in about 30 minutes whenever a cookie craving strikes.

Festive Variations

The beauty of this versatile dough lies in its adaptability. For chocolate lovers, add 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips to the dough before shaping. To create a more complex flavor profile, consider adding 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract alongside the vanilla. During the holiday season, I often divide the dough into three portions, leaving one plain while tinting the others with red and green food coloring. Roll small portions of each color together for a festive marbled effect that delights children and adults alike. For an elegant touch, press a single red or green candied cherry into the center of each cookie before baking.

Serving Suggestions

These soft Christmas cookies shine as part of a holiday cookie platter, but they truly excel when served slightly warm with a glass of cold milk. For festive gatherings, arrange them on a tiered serving dish interspersed with sprigs of fresh rosemary for a beautiful presentation that evokes a winter forest. During family gatherings, I set up a cookie decorating station with various colored icings, sprinkles and candies, allowing guests to personalize their own cookies. This interactive element creates lasting memories while keeping little hands busy during holiday preparations.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I use butter instead of margarine in these Christmas cookies?

Yes, you can substitute an equal amount of unsalted butter for the margarine. Butter will provide a richer flavor, though the texture might be slightly different. If using salted butter, consider reducing the added salt in the recipe.

→ How do I store soft Christmas cookies to keep them fresh?

Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread in the container to help maintain moisture. For longer storage, freeze in a single layer, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months.

→ Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days (wrapped tightly in plastic wrap) or frozen for up to 3 months. If frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling into balls and baking.

→ What other decorations can I use besides sugar sprinkles?

These cookies are versatile for decorating. Try colorful jimmies, nonpareils, sanding sugar, or even press a Hershey's kiss or candy into the center after baking. You can also frost cooled cookies with royal icing or buttercream for more elaborate designs.

→ Why did my cookies spread too much during baking?

Excessive spreading usually occurs if the dough is too warm. Try chilling the formed dough balls for 20-30 minutes before baking. Also ensure your oven temperature is accurate, as an oven running too cool can cause spreading before the cookies set.

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

The cookies are done when the edges are just set and beginning to turn light golden, while the centers still look slightly underbaked and soft. They'll continue cooking slightly on the hot baking sheet after removal from the oven. This ensures the signature soft texture.