It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Westchester, and with it comes an abundance of cookie recipes to try. The real question, though, is which one will you whip up next? There are icebox confections, scoop-and-drop varieties, cutouts, rolled treats, and many more. Chocolate-filled concoctions are perennially popular, as are recipes crafted with kids in mind. And, of course, we’d be remiss to mention all the frosted, sprinkled options that pop up at cookie swaps and holiday dessert tables aplenty this time of year.
If you have time to make only one batch of holiday cookies this season, and you want it to be pretty, festive, and widely appealing, try this simple cutout. It freezes beautifully and makes a great gift. The taste is sweet but uncomplicated, which makes it loved by pretty much everyone. Best of all, it’s easy. It uses six basic ingredients and the dough is rolled between plastic wrap instead of being dusted with flour. The result is a no-mess, no-fuss holiday treat.
Secrets to Success
Before you begin making these holiday cookies, there are a few key pointers to keep in mind.
- Use quality ingredients: Because the ingredient list for these cookies is short and sweet, making a point to use top-notch butter and vanilla can help your treats shine.
- Don’t skip refrigeration: These cookies have a higher butter concentration, so it’s essential to refrigerate the dough before cutting the cookies.
- Watch the cook time: Ovens vary in heat and cooking power, so watch your cutouts closely to ensure they don’t brown.
Fun Cookie Cutters
Once your dough is chilled and rolled, it’s time to get cutting! Here are a few cookie cutter designs that will make your baking session more fun.
- Classic cookie cutters – This set of eight comes with all the essentials.
- Mini ornament and Santa cookie stampers – If you like the stamper style, this set is perfect.
Holiday Cutout Cookies
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy36
cookies1
hour30
minutes14
minutes1
hour44
minutesThese holiday cutout cookies are a great cooking project with kids or friends.
Ingredients
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
Sanding sugar for decoration
Directions
- In a large bowl, with electric mixer on medium, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until well mixed. Scrape down sides of bowl, add flour and salt. Blend on low speed until just combined; do not over mix.
- Gather dough into a ball. Flatten into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove dough from refrigerator, take off plastic wrap and place between two new sheets of plastic wrap. Roll dough to a ¼-inch thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters into desired shapes and place on prepared cookie sheet. Decorate with sanding sugar.
- Bake cookies for 11–14 minutes, being careful not to brown. The bottoms of the cookies should just start to turn color. Cool for one minute on the baking sheets and then transfer cookies to a cool, flat surface. Store cookies in an airtight container.
Related: This Hot Cider Recipe Will Keep You Cozy in Westchester
