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Christmas Slice & Bake Cookies: Easy Festive Recipe for Holiday Cookie Boxes

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These Christmas slice & bake cookies are buttery, tender, and packed with festive sprinkles. Perfect for holiday cookie boxes, potlucks, or gifting, they come together quickly and can be customized with your favorite mix-ins and decorations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, but recommended)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/3 cup red and green sprinkles
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (optional)
  • 1/4 cup colored sanding sugar (for rolling edges, optional)
  • Melted white or dark chocolate (for dipping, optional)
  • Crushed candy canes or edible glitter (for topping, optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract; beat for another minute until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture, beating on low speed until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
  4. Fold in sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, and orange zest if using.
  5. Divide dough in half. Place each half on plastic wrap or parchment paper and roll into a log about 10 inches long and 2 inches thick. Wrap tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days).
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Slice chilled dough into 1/4-inch thick rounds. If dough crumbles, let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
  8. Roll edges of each slice in colored sanding sugar or dip halfway into melted chocolate, then sprinkle with crushed candy canes or edible glitter, if desired.
  9. Arrange cookies at least 1 inch apart on prepared sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set and just starting to turn golden.
  10. Let cookies cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Chill dough thoroughly for best results. Use a sharp knife for clean slices, especially with mix-ins. Dough logs can be frozen for up to 2 months; slice and bake straight from the freezer, adding 1-2 minutes to baking time. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 baking blend. For vegan, substitute butter and use a flax egg. Decorate cookies before or after baking for extra festive flair.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas cookies, slice and bake, holiday cookies, festive cookies, cookie box, easy cookies, butter cookies, sprinkles, make ahead, gifting

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/christmas-slice-and-bake-cookies-easy-festive-recipe-for-holiday-cookie-boxes/