This classic Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookie is buttery, tender, and dusted with a soft snow of powdered sugar. The crumb is delicate and melts on your tongue, leaving a rich vanilla flavor and a warm, buttery aroma. These small, simple cookies are perfect for holiday cookie plates, gift tins, or a cozy afternoon with tea.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Nutrition Information
(Approximate per cookie, based on 24 cookies total)
- Calories per serving: 130 kcal
- Protein: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fat: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
Why Make This Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookie
These cookies are simple, fast, and reliably tender. They have a delicate, sandy texture that feels light in your mouth, with a buttery taste and a whisper of vanilla. They look festive when dusted with powdered sugar, and they pair well with coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. If you love shortbread-like cookies, these are an easy, crowd-pleasing addition to any holiday dessert spread or cookie exchange. For more cookie ideas and sweet inspiration, check out this handy collection of desserts.
How to Make Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookie
This recipe uses a simple creaming method that gives a tender, fine crumb. You’ll cream butter and powdered sugar until light, add the egg yolk and vanilla for richness, then fold in the dry ingredients gently so the cookies stay delicate. Small balls bake quickly and become just lightly golden at the edges. Dusting with more powdered sugar while warm gives a pretty crackled look and adds extra sweetness.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, Powdered sugar for dusting
Directions:
Step 1: Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Measure and have all ingredients at hand. If your butter is cold, soften it at room temperature until it gives slightly when pressed.
Step 2: Mixing
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy and has a pale color. Beat in the egg yolk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. In another bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing gently until fully combined and a soft dough forms.
Step 3: Baking
Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch each) and place them on the lined baking sheet, spaced about 1.5 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass or your palm to create an even disk. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Watch closely toward the end so they don’t brown too much.
Step 4: Finishing
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes so they set. While still slightly warm, dust generously with powdered sugar to create a snowy coating. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving so the sugar stays powdery and the cookies firm up.
How to Serve Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookie
Serve these cookies on a holiday platter with a dusting of extra powdered sugar. They pair beautifully with hot drinks—coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or mulled cider. For a festive touch, arrange them with fresh cranberries and sprigs of rosemary. They also make lovely edible gifts in a decorative tin or cellophane bag tied with a ribbon.
How to Store Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookie
- At room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Place sheets of parchment between layers to prevent sticking.
- In the refrigerator: Store up to 2 weeks in an airtight container, though cookies may dry slightly.
- In the freezer: Freeze baked cookies in a single layer on a tray until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. You can also freeze dough balls on a tray and bake from frozen—add 1–2 minutes to baking time.
Expert Tips for Perfect Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookie
- Use room-temperature butter for easy creaming. If it’s too soft, chill the dough briefly before shaping.
- Don’t overmix after adding the flour. Stir until just combined to keep cookies tender.
- Weighing ingredients yields more consistent cookies; 1 cup flour is roughly 120 g.
- For uniform cookies, use a small cookie scoop to portion dough.
- Dust with powdered sugar while cookies are still slightly warm so the sugar adheres and creates a pretty finish.
- If dough is crumbly, add 1/2 teaspoon of milk or cream and gently knead to bring it together.
- To deepen flavor, swap 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla for almond extract or add a pinch of finely grated lemon zest.
Delicious Variations
- Lemon Melt-in-Your-Mouth: Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract. Dust with powdered sugar mixed with a little lemon zest.
- Almond Snowballs: Replace vanilla with 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Press a toasted almond into the center before baking.
- Chocolate-Drizzle Cookies: After cooling, drizzle melted dark chocolate over cookies and let set.
- Spiced Snow Cookies: Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
- Nutty Crunch: Gently fold 1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios or walnuts into the dough for texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make these cookies without an egg yolk?
A: The egg yolk adds richness and helps bind the dough. You can replace it with 1 tablespoon heavy cream + 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, but texture will be slightly different—still tender but a touch less rich.
Q: My dough is too crumbly. What can I do?
A: Add a small amount of liquid—start with 1/2 teaspoon of milk or cream and gently knead until it holds. Chill the dough for 10–20 minutes to help it firm up before rolling.
Q: Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
A: Yes. Reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe. If you use salted butter, taste and adjust so the cookies aren’t too salty.
Q: How do I keep the powdered sugar from melting into the cookies?
A: Dust while the cookies are slightly warm so sugar adheres. Let them cool completely on a rack; once cooled, the sugar will remain powdery. For long storage, place a sheet of parchment between layers to avoid rubbing off the sugar.
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Yes. Wrap dough tightly and refrigerate up to 48 hours. Bring to room temperature before rolling, or chill and roll while cold. You can also freeze shaped dough balls on a tray, then bag them for up to 3 months—bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to bake time.
Q: How do I make these gluten-free?
A: Replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture will be similar; chill dough a bit longer if it feels too soft.
Q: Why only an egg yolk, not a whole egg?
A: The yolk adds richness and tenderness without adding extra moisture from egg white, which can make cookies cakier. This keeps the crumb fine and buttery.
Conclusion
These Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookies are a simple, cozy treat that bakes up fast and tastes like the holidays. They offer a tender, buttery bite and a pretty snowy finish—perfect for sharing or gifting. If you enjoy delicate, sand-like cookies, you might also like traditional sand cookies such as Areias (Sand cookies) for another buttery, crumbly option to try. Give these a go—you’ll love the melt-in-your-mouth texture and easy, homey flavor.
Print
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Cookies
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Buttery, tender Christmas cookies dusted with powdered sugar, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add to the butter mixture, mixing gently until combined.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet, flattening slightly. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool briefly, dust with powdered sugar while warm, and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
For best results, use room-temperature butter. Dust with powdered sugar while the cookies are still slightly warm for better adherence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
