Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add this to the butter mixture on low speed.
4. Adjust Dough Consistency
If the dough feels too stiff to pipe, add milk one tablespoon at a time until smooth but still firm enough to hold its shape.
5. Pipe the Cookies
Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe small swirls, rosettes, or S-shapes onto lined baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart.
6. Chill for Best Results (Optional but Recommended)
Refrigerate piped cookies for 20–30 minutes. This helps them keep their shape while baking.
7. Bake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake cookies for 10–14 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but centers remain pale.
8. Cool Completely
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Decorating Your Christmas Butter Cookies
Chocolate-Dipped Butter Cookies
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Melt chocolate gently using a double boiler or microwave.
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Dip half of each cooled cookie into chocolate.
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Sprinkle immediately with festive decorations.
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Let set at room temperature or chill briefly.
Classic Spritz-Style Finish
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Add colored sugar or sprinkles before baking for a traditional look.
Elegant Holiday Look
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Drizzle white chocolate over dark chocolate-dipped cookies.
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Finish with gold or pearl sprinkles for gifting.
Flavor Variations You’ll Love
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Almond Butter Cookies: Replace vanilla with almond extract.
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Orange Butter Cookies: Add 1 teaspoon orange zest.
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Chocolate Butter Cookies: Replace ¼ cup flour with cocoa powder.
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Peppermint Butter Cookies: Add crushed candy canes on chocolate dip.
Pro Tips for Perfect Butter Cookies
✔ Use real butter, never margarine
✔ Butter must be soft but not melted
✔ Don’t overbake—pale cookies stay tender
✔ Chill dough if cookies spread too much
✔ Use a large piping tip to avoid cracking dough
Common Problems & Solutions
Cookies spread too much
→ Dough too warm. Chill before baking.
Dough too stiff to pipe
→ Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time.
Cookies dry or crumbly
→ Overbaked or too much flour measured.
Uneven browning
→ Rotate baking sheet halfway through.
How to Store Christmas Butter Cookies
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Room temperature:
Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days. -
Refrigerator:
Keeps fresh for 10–12 days. -
Freezer:
Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
You can also freeze unbaked piped dough—just bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes.
Make-Ahead & Gifting Tips
🎁 Layer cookies with parchment in decorative tins
🎄 Add ribbon and holiday tags
🍪 Pair with fudge, snowball cookies, or biscotti
☕ Include with cocoa or coffee gift sets
Butter cookies ship well and keep their texture, making them ideal for holiday gifting.
Why These Christmas Butter Cookies Always Impress
These cookies are:
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Rich but not heavy
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Sweet but not overpowering
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Beautiful without complicated decorating
They’re proof that simple recipes done right can outshine anything fancy.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a classic Christmas cookie recipe that never fails, these Christmas Butter Cookies are it. They’re elegant, nostalgic, easy to customize, and absolutely irresistible. One batch is never enough—so don’t be surprised if they disappear faster than you expect.
Bake them once, and they’ll become a holiday tradition in your kitchen year after year. 🎄🍪
