Santa Cookies
Delightful holiday cookies that are fun to make with kids, featuring buttery dough and rich frosting, perfect for any festive gathering.
Ingredients
For the cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling Forms the base of our cookies.
- 1 tsp baking powder Helps cookies rise.
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt Enhances sweetness.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Adds creaminess to the dough.
- 1 cup granulated sugar Sweetens the cookies.
- 1 large egg Binds ingredients and adds moisture.
- 1 Tbsp whole milk Keeps the dough soft.
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Adds depth to the flavor.
For the frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened For a creamy frosting.
- 5 cups powdered sugar Creates a fluffy texture.
- 1/4 cup whole milk Adjusts consistency for frosting.
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract Enhances flavor.
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt Balances sweetness.
For decoration
- Red food coloring For Santa designs.
- Red sanding sugar Adds sparkle.
- Red and brown mini M&Ms For decorating.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until fluffy.
- Add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, blending until just combined to create a soft dough.
- Divide the dough in half and roll it out between sheets of parchment paper, then refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut out Santa-shaped cookies with a cookie cutter and place them in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Bake the cookies until the edges are golden, about 8-10 minutes, then let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Frosting
- For frosting, beat the softened butter until creamy, then gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
- Add the milk, vanilla, and salt, and blend to create buttercream.
- Divide buttercream and tint part red.
- Spread red buttercream on the top of cookies and dip in red sanding sugar.
- Pipe white buttercream for Santa's beard and cap, adding mini M&Ms for decoration.
Notes
Not overmixing the dough will help keep the cookies tender. Ensure your butter is at room temperature for best results. Let the cookies cool completely before frosting.