Let me help you get into the holiday spirit with this recipe for Shortbread Christmas Cookies with Sprinkles.
These buttery cookies are made with simple pantry ingredients and are the perfect addition to any holiday cookie baking list. Little helpers will enjoy making the designs for forks and adding the sprinkles right before baking.
Don't miss out on the Christmas Cookie fun! Explore our collection of other festive recipes for even more delicious treats.
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Shortbread cookies have a cherished and enduring tradition that is closely associated with the holiday season. They can be shaped into various festive designs or enhanced with additions like chocolate chips, nuts, spices and sprinkles!!
Looking for more Easy Dessert Recipes? Try my Nutter Butter Snowmen, Reindeer Desserts, and even my Italian Ricotta Cookies. Yum!
Table of Contents
- What does adding cornstarch to shortbread do?
- Limited-Time Offer: 2 Holiday Digital Cookbooks for $7.99!
- What's the difference between sugar cookies and shortbread cookies?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Ingredients
- Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Top Tip
- Baking Instructions
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- How to Store Shortbread Cookies
- How to Freeze Shortbread Cookies
- Thawing Tips
- Top Recipe Tip
- More Christmas Cookies to Love...
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
What does adding cornstarch to shortbread do?
Adding cornstarch to the dough helps create a unique texture that sets shortbread apart from other cookies. Cornstarch works by softening the gluten formation, resulting in a delicate and tender cookie.
It enhances the texture, flavor, and overall quality of shortbread cookies, making them even more enjoyable to savor. And it gives you that delicious melt-in-your-mouth texture we all love about shortbread cookies.
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Make this holiday season extra sweet with twice the baking inspiration! Get TWO digital cookbooks packed with my family's favorite Christmas cookies for the price of ONE. Only $7.99!
What's the difference between sugar cookies and shortbread cookies?
Sugar cookies typically have eggs while shortbread does not. Shortbread has a higher ratio of butter to flour resulting in a tender and light cookie.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
s Christmas Themed Winter Holiday Ceramic Cookie Jar, Gnome Ceramic Food Storage Jar with Airtight Lid
KitchenAid RRK150WH 5 Qt. Artisan Series - White (Renewed)Wilton Holiday Sprinkles Assortment, 6.8 oz.HONGBAKE Baking Sheet Pan Set, Cookie Sheets for Oven, Nonstick Half/Quarter/Jelly Roll Pans with Diamond Texture Pattern, Heavy Duty Cookie Tray
Ingredients
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Try adding ¼ to ½ teaspoon of almond extract for a delicious almond flavor!
- For orange shortbread, add the zest of a large orange.
- Try adding mini chocolate chips or crushed walnuts to the dough!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: With a whisk attachment, combine the butter and powdered sugar thoroughly. Whip until pale yellow and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the vanilla and mix.
Step 3: Add the flour and cornstarch.
Step 4: The dough will be sticky.
Top Tip
Cover the dough and refrigerate for an hour so the dough will be firm and no longer sticky.
Baking Instructions
Step 5: Roll the dough into ping pong sized balls.
Step 6: Create an impression in the dough with a fork then add the Christmas sprinkles.
Step 7: Bake for 20 minutes in a 300°F oven until edges are slightly browned.
Step 8: Allow to cool a few minutes before cooling completely on a wire rack.
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How to Store Shortbread Cookies
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks.
How to Freeze Shortbread Cookies
Add the baked cookies to a freezer-safe bag or air-tight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
You can also freeze the cookies before baking by shaping the shortbread dough into a log and then wrapping the log in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag or an air-tight container. Label the package and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thawing Tips
When you're ready to bake, remove the frozen dough from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
Once thawed, slice and bake the cookies according to the recipe directions.
Top Recipe Tip
Make sure the butter is soft so it whips up light and fluffy for an airy cookie.
More Christmas Cookies to Love...
- Check out my other recipe for Classic Shortbread Cookies.
- Or you might enjoy this recipe for Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies.
📖 Recipe Card
Shortbread Christmas Cookies with Sprinkles
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- ¾ cup cornstarch plus additional for making impression
- Christmas sprinkles
Method
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and powdered sugar. Use the whisk attachment to mix on low speed for about a minute. Once combined, scrape down the sides and mix again. Bump up the speed to medium high for an additional 5 minutes. The mixture should be pale yellow in color and fluffy looking.
- Add in the vanilla (or other flavoring of choice - almond, orange, vanilla beans) Mix well.
- Add in the flour and cornstarch and mix well. Dough will be sticky.
- Cover the bowl of dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour or the freezer for 30 minutes until the dough is firm and no longer sticky.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Scoop out a ball of dough about the size of a ping pong ball and roll into a sphere.
- Place on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Dip the prongs of a fork into the additional cornstarch and then press into the cookie to create an impression.
- Decorate with the sprinkles. Repeat until all dough has been shaped and decorated.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or just until the edges are set and just slightly browned.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Notes
- Make sure the butter is soft so it whips up light and fluffy for an airy cookie.
- Try adding ¼ to ½ teaspoon of almond extract for a delicious almond flavor!
- For orange shortbread, add the zest of a large orange.
- Make a vanilla bean version by adding the seeds scraped from one vanilla bean, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.
Isobel Villano says
Wonderful recipe..easy to use!
Lois says
Thank you for the 5-star review! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.