Description
Delight in the festive spirit with these rich and fudgy Chocolate Christmas Cookies, perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with cocoa powder for deep chocolate flavor and topped with a sweet, creamy glaze and colorful Christmas sprinkles, these cookies are both visually festive and irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder + extra for rolling out
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2-3 teaspoons milk
- Christmas sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set this aside for when the dough is ready.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla bean paste or extract, then beat again until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients and Form Dough: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mix to the butter mixture in three parts, mixing well after each addition until a smooth dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, shaping it into a circle to facilitate rolling. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour or in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Roll and Cut Shapes: When ready, dust a clean countertop with cocoa powder (this enhances flavor). Roll the dough out to about half an inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut your desired shapes and place them on the prepared cookie sheet. Freeze the cookies on the sheet for 10 minutes to firm up the dough before baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Once baked, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely until they are no longer warm.
- Prepare and Apply Glaze: To make the glaze, combine powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and milk (start with 2 teaspoons and add more if needed) and mix until you get a thick, spreadable consistency. Frost the cooled cookies with the glaze and decorate with Christmas sprinkles for a festive finish.
Notes
- Using cocoa powder to dust the surface instead of flour intensifies the chocolate flavor.
- Chilling the dough before rolling helps prevent spreading during baking and makes it easier to cut shapes.
- Freezing the shaped cookies before baking helps maintain their shape in the oven.
- The glaze is thick and rich; adjust milk quantity slightly if you want a thinner consistency.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
