Description
Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies, also known as Vanilla Biscuits, are buttery, soft yet crisp treats perfect for holiday decorating. These easy-to-make cookies have a delicate vanilla flavor and can be rolled out and cut into festive shapes. They’re ideal for icing and sharing during Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 225g / 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (or use salted butter and skip salt)
- 1 cup caster/superfine sugar (granulated/ordinary white sugar works too)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg (55-60g / 1.9-2oz)
- 3 cups plain/all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
Icing (optional)
- Icing sugar and desired decorations for sugar cookies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until creamy and smooth, about 1 minute at medium speed.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, beating until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients.
- Mix Dough: Start mixing slowly to avoid flour explosion, then beat until the flour is fully incorporated forming a clumpy dough.
- Prepare Dough for Rolling: Lightly dust your work surface with flour and transfer the dough out of the bowl. Pat it together gently, then cut the dough in half and shape into two discs.
- Roll Out Dough: Roll each disc out to your preferred thickness: 0.3 cm (1/8 inch) for thinner, crispier cookies or 0.6 cm (1/4 inch) for thicker, softer cookies. Sprinkle flour underneath and over the dough to prevent sticking.
- Cut and Transfer Shapes: Use cookie cutters to press out festive shapes. Carefully transfer the cutouts to the prepared baking sheets using a knife or spatula. Keep any leftover dough refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Bake Cookies: Place the trays in the oven and bake for 10 minutes, swapping the trays halfway through the baking time for even baking. Cookies should be pale golden with lightly golden edges.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking trays so they can finish cooking and firm up properly.
- Decorate (optional): Once cooled, decorate the cookies with icing and desired festive decorations as preferred.
Notes
- Using salted butter means you can skip the added salt in the dough.
- Swapping trays halfway during baking ensures even cooking and browning.
- Dough can be refrigerated if not baking all at once to keep it fresh.
- Adjust thickness when rolling out for different cookie textures.
- Cookies finish cooking on the baking tray after removal from the oven, so handle gently.
