Buttery Cut Out Christmas Cookies

Indulge in the festive spirit with these buttery cut-out Christmas cookies—a holiday classic that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! These cookies boast a rich, buttery flavor and a delightfully tender texture, making them the perfect canvas for all your creative holiday decorations. The dough comes together effortlessly with simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, sugar, and butter, while a hint of vanilla and optional almond extract adds a touch of elegance. With minimal prep time and a foolproof chilling step to ensure perfect cut-outs, these cookies bake to golden perfection in just minutes. Ideal for gifting, cookie swaps, or family decorating parties, this recipe yields about 36 cookies and pairs beautifully with festive royal icing or a sprinkle of sanding sugar. Bring the magic of the season into your kitchen with these irresistible Christmas treats!

Nutriscore Rating: 23/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 36

Ingredients

• 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup Granulated sugar
• 1 Egg
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
• 0.5 teaspoons Almond extract (optional)
• 3 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and pale, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 2

Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the bowl, and beat until fully combined.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 4

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together and is no longer crumbly.

Step 5

Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a flat disc. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight) to chill the dough.

Step 6

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Step 7

On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite holiday-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

Step 8

Repeat with the second disc of dough, collecting and re-rolling scraps as needed to make additional cookies.

Step 9

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies soft.

Step 10

Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 11

Once the cookies are fully cooled, decorate them with royal icing, sprinkles, or sanding sugar as desired. Allow any decorations to set before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	504.8 grams (504.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2584

Total Fat 199.00g	255%
Saturated Fat 123.30g	617%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.70g
Cholesterol 713mg	238%
Sodium 1761mg	77%
Total Carbohydrate 204.00g	74%
Dietary Fiber 0.00g	0%
Total Sugars 201.50g
Protein 7.90g	16%

Vitamin D 48IU	240%
Calcium 74mg	6%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 131mg	3%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 67.9%

Protein: 1.2%

Carbs: 30.9%