Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies bring festive joy to your holiday baking with their tender texture and delightful almond-vanilla flavor. These charming cookies are perfect for decorating with snowflake and stocking shapes, making them a beautiful treat for gatherings or gift-giving.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter mixture, mixing well to combine.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together and is fully combined.
5. Step 5: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up.
6. Step 6: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
7. Step 7: Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into snowflakes, stockings, or your desired shapes.
8. Step 8: Place the cut cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them evenly.
9. Step 9: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden around the cookies.
10. Step 10: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.

Tips & Variations

• For a wintery decoration, use white and icy blue royal icing to pipe delicate snowflake designs with a fine tip.
• Sprinkle sanding sugar or edible glitter on the cookies before the icing sets to achieve a frosted sparkle.
• Add silver edible pearls on top of your royal icing for an elegant touch.
• Substitute almond extract with lemon extract for a bright citrus twist.
• Wrap decorated cookies individually to give as charming holiday gifts.

Storage

Store the baked and decorated sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. If you want to keep them longer, freeze the undecorated cookies in a sealed bag for up to 3 months and decorate after thawing. To refresh stored cookies, let them come to room temperature before enjoying.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but omit adding extra salt to the dough to avoid making the cookies too salty.

How thick should I roll out the dough for perfect cookies?

Rolling the dough to about ¼-inch thickness gives you cookies that are sturdy enough for decorating but still tender and chewy.

Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 102 reviews

These Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies are classic buttery cookies shaped into festive holiday forms like snowflakes and stockings. Soft yet crisp, they are perfect for decorating with royal icing and edible glitter to create a beautiful winter-themed treat.

• Author: Hannah
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
• Yield: Approximately 24–30 cookies depending on size 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until the texture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add Egg and Extracts: Incorporate the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing well until fully combined.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing slowly until the dough comes together and no streaks of flour remain.
5. Chill Dough: Wrap the cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This helps the dough firm up for easier rolling and cleaner cookie shapes.
6. Preheat Oven and Roll Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to approximately ¼ inch thickness.
7. Cut Cookie Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into winter-themed shapes such as snowflakes and stockings. Place the cutouts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
8. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden but the centers are still pale and set.
9. Cool Completely: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
10. Decorate: Use royal icing in white and icy blue shades to pipe snowflake designs. Add silver edible pearls, sanding sugar, or edible glitter for a frosted winter look. Allow the icing to set fully before serving or storing.

Notes

• Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
• Refrigerating the dough is essential for clean cookie shapes and prevents spreading.
• Use a light hand when rolling out the dough to maintain even thickness for even baking.
• Decorate cooled cookies only to prevent icing from melting.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
• For a stronger almond flavor, add a few more drops of almond extract, but be cautious not to overpower vanilla.

Keywords: Winter sugar cookies, holiday cookies, decorated sugar cookies, royal icing cookies, Christmas cookies, festive cookies