Santa Christmas Cookies

These delightful Santa cookies bring the festive season alive with their vibrant colors and playful designs! Each cookie is crafted with a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth dough that bakes up crisp around the edges. The classic slice-and-bake method makes these Santa faces and boots perfect for holiday cookie exchanges or as a sweet treat after a holiday meal. Not only are these cookies incredibly fun to make, but they’re also perfect for kids and adults alike to enjoy together. With sprinkles, colorful icing, and a bit of creativity, you can turn your kitchen into a winter wonderland. Pack them in holiday-themed boxes or jars, and you’ve got an easy, delicious gift that everyone will love!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 226 g (2 US sticks) butter, softened
  • 160 g (1 ⅓ cups) powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk (reserve egg white for egg wash)
  • 350 g (3 cups) cake flour
  • 70 g (¾ cup) almond flour
  • Red, green, orange, and black food colorings
  • Sprinkles (white, gold, red, and black) for decoration
  • Egg wash (equal parts egg white and water)

Directions:

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add salt, egg, and yolk, mixing well. Gradually incorporate cake flour and almond flour until a smooth dough forms.
  2. Divide and Color: Take approximately 300 g of the dough and divide into three portions:
    • One portion colored red for Santa’s hat and boots
    • One portion colored green for wreaths
    • One portion left plain, adding orange to a smaller part for Santa’s face
  3. Shape and Freeze: Roll and shape each section according to desired cookie designs, such as:
    • Santa Boot: Form a small rectangular base and attach a rounded portion on top.
    • Santa Hat: Make a triangle shape for the hat and attach to a half-sphere shape for Santa’s face.
    • Wreath: Shape into a ring and use a star cutter to make a ruffled edge.
  4. Add Details and Freeze: Shape small red and black dough balls for Santa’s nose and eyes. Decorate with sprinkles as desired. Attach parts with a light egg wash and chill thoroughly.
  5. Slice and Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Slice each log into 5mm (0.2 inch) rounds and place on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, reduce heat to 330°F (165°C), and bake an additional 7-8 minutes until edges are golden brown. Cool completely before serving.

Prep Time: 1 hour | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Kcal: 73 kcal per cookie | Servings: 50 cookies

A Holiday Tradition with a Creative Twist

When the holidays roll around, there’s something magical about gathering in the kitchen, filling the air with the warmth and aroma of freshly baked cookies. Among the many holiday treats, Santa Slice-and-Bake Christmas Cookies hold a special place, capturing the whimsy and cheer of the season in every colorful bite. With their simple, eye-catching design and classic flavors, these cookies bring a playful element to the holiday cookie platter while also giving bakers a fun project to enjoy with family and friends.

The Appeal of Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Slice-and-bake cookies are beloved for their versatility and simplicity. The concept is as straightforward as it sounds: prepare a batch of dough, shape it into a log, chill, slice, and bake. This method allows for easy storage and quick preparation, making it perfect for busy holiday schedules. The dough can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, making it easy to prepare a batch ahead of time and bake fresh cookies whenever needed.

The beauty of slice-and-bake cookies lies not only in their simplicity but in their potential for creative expression. From simple, classic rounds to intricate holiday shapes, the options are nearly limitless. With a little imagination, slice-and-bake cookies can be transformed into nearly any festive design. For these Santa cookies, the basic technique is elevated through color, shape, and decoration, turning a traditional method into a charming, holiday-themed treat.

Crafting the Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Creating these Santa cookies requires a bit of patience and a love for detail, but the end result is worth every step. The dough is divided and colored to create different components of Santa’s iconic look – the hat, beard, and face. Each piece is then carefully shaped and layered, capturing Santa’s jolly expression in cookie form. The step-by-step process of crafting each element, from the bright red hat to the fluffy beard, makes these cookies as much an art project as they are a baking endeavor.

To get the classic Santa look, colored dough sections are assembled into a log with care and precision, often using tools like cookie cutters and small knives to achieve the right shapes and textures. Adding details like sprinkles, which mimic the fluff on Santa’s hat and beard, and tiny black dough pieces for his eyes, brings each cookie to life. These small touches elevate the design and make each cookie feel unique and festive.

Family-Friendly Fun in the Kitchen

One of the biggest joys of making Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies is that they’re perfect for involving the whole family. Children can help with tasks like rolling the dough, adding sprinkles, or arranging the shaped pieces together to make Santa’s face. It’s a fantastic way to share in the spirit of the season and create holiday memories that everyone can cherish. Plus, kids often get a kick out of seeing the raw log of dough transform into a batch of cheerful Santa faces after slicing and baking.

The slice-and-bake process also has the benefit of allowing everyone to enjoy the satisfaction of decorating without the more intensive piping and flooding techniques that other types of decorated cookies often require. Instead, these cookies rely on colored dough and simple shapes, which means even younger children can participate without too much difficulty. Whether as a fun holiday project or a cozy weekend activity, Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies are a delightful way to get the family together in the kitchen.

Perfect for Gifting and Entertaining

There’s no doubt that homemade holiday cookies make wonderful gifts. Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies, with their bright colors and whimsical design, bring a little extra cheer to any cookie box or holiday gift bag. Their playful look makes them stand out among other treats, and their crisp, buttery texture is universally appealing. Packaged in festive tins or arranged on a holiday platter, these cookies make a beautiful and delicious addition to any holiday gathering.

Beyond gifting, these cookies are also ideal for entertaining. When arranged on a holiday dessert table, they add a festive, eye-catching element that guests of all ages can appreciate. Their small size and approachable flavors make them a great choice for any holiday gathering, from formal dinners to casual cookie exchanges. Additionally, the slice-and-bake method allows for a relatively large batch of cookies, which is always a plus when you need to serve a crowd.

Customizing Your Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies

While the classic Santa design is undoubtedly festive, there are many ways to personalize these cookies to fit your own style or traditions. For instance, you might add a touch of peppermint extract to the dough for a hint of holiday flavor. Alternatively, you could use different colored sprinkles or edible glitter to give Santa a bit of extra sparkle. Those who enjoy a little bit of whimsy could even add edible googly eyes or experiment with different facial expressions to give each Santa a unique personality.

Customizing your Santa cookies is also a great way to use up any extra dough or decorations you might have on hand. For example, you could make mini Santa hats with the extra red dough, or create smaller cookies in different holiday shapes like stars or snowflakes. The flexibility of this recipe means that you can easily adapt it to fit your needs and get creative with your cookie-making.

Tips for Perfect Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Achieving the perfect look and texture with slice-and-bake cookies takes a bit of finesse. Here are a few tips to help you get the best results:

  1. Chill the Dough Thoroughly: Chilling the dough not only helps it hold its shape during baking but also makes it easier to slice cleanly. For best results, refrigerate the dough for at least two hours or freeze it briefly before slicing.
  2. Use a Sharp Knife: When slicing the cookie log, a sharp knife is essential for making clean cuts. Serrated knives work particularly well for slice-and-bake cookies, as they allow you to cut through the dough without flattening or distorting the design.
  3. Bake in Small Batches: To ensure even baking, it’s often best to bake slice-and-bake cookies in small batches. This way, you can keep an eye on the cookies and adjust the baking time if necessary.
  4. Experiment with Decorations: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different decorations. Sprinkles, colored sugars, or even a light dusting of edible glitter can add a touch of magic to your Santa cookies.
  5. Store Properly: These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week, though they are freshest when enjoyed within a few days of baking. If you plan to make them ahead of time, consider storing the dough logs in the freezer until you’re ready to bake.

A Tradition Worth Starting

Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies are more than just a festive treat; they’re a holiday tradition in the making. From the process of shaping and decorating each cookie to the joy of sharing them with loved ones, these cookies are a celebration of the season in every sense. They offer a chance to slow down, savor the moment, and create something special that brings a smile to everyone’s face.

Whether you’re making these cookies as gifts, sharing them at a holiday gathering, or enjoying them with a mug of hot cocoa by the fire, Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies capture the warmth and magic of the holiday season. So, gather your ingredients, don your apron, and let these cookies be a new addition to your family’s holiday traditions.

Conclusion:

The holidays are a time for celebrating, and there’s no better way to bring the spirit of the season into your home than with a batch of Santa Slice-and-Bake Christmas Cookies. They’re charming, delicious, and easy enough for bakers of all ages and skill levels to enjoy. With their buttery flavor and adorable design, these cookies are sure to be a hit with anyone who tries them.

Whether you’re gifting them, serving them at a party, or simply baking for the fun of it, Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies are a delightful addition to the holiday season. So, this year, add a little extra cheer to your celebrations with these festive cookies – they may just become your new favorite holiday tradition.

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