Description
Melting Moments Christmas Cookies bring festive cheer with their delicate shortbread-like texture and melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Dusted with powdered sugar and filled with creamy buttercream, these delightful treats will make winter celebrations sweeter and more memorable.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies Base:
- 16 tablespoons (226 grams) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup (120 grams) cornstarch
- ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon (100 grams) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Sweeteners:
- ½ cup (60 grams) confectioners’ sugar
Flavoring:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120 grams) confectioners’ sugar (sifted) for topping
Instructions
- Sift cornstarch, flour, and salt together in a mixing bowl to create a uniform dry ingredient blend.
- In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter and confectioners’ sugar for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and airy.
- Introduce vanilla extract into the butter mixture, carefully scraping down the bowl’s sides to ensure complete integration.
- Slowly fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture at low speed, gently mixing until a smooth, consistent dough forms.
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper to facilitate easy cookie removal and cleanup.
- Carefully shape small portions of dough into uniform balls, approximately 1 inch in diameter, and arrange them 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Refrigerate the cookie dough balls for 20 minutes to help maintain their shape during baking.
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) while the dough chills.
- Transfer chilled cookie sheet directly into the preheated oven and bake for 11-12 minutes, watching for golden brown edges as an indicator of doneness.
- Remove cookies from oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, which helps them set properly.
- While cookies are still warm, dust generously with additional confectioners’ sugar, creating a delicate, sweet coating.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack and let them cool completely to room temperature.
- Once fully cooled, apply a final light dusting of confectioners’ sugar for an elegant finish.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, where they will maintain freshness for up to one week.
Notes
- Cooling these delicate cookies on wire racks prevents soggy bottoms and maintains their perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Refrigerating dough before baking helps cookies hold their shape and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Sifting dry ingredients eliminates potential lumps, guaranteeing a smooth, consistent cookie texture.
- Using room temperature butter ensures easier creaming and smoother cookie dough integration.
- Generously dusting with powdered sugar creates a festive, snow-like appearance that makes these cookies perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Global
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 157 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 23 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg