Description: Delicate, buttery shortbread cookies shaped into festive designs like stars, trees, and snowflakes, decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles. A holiday classic perfect for gatherings or gifting.
Recipe:
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling time)
- Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Decoration:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles, edible glitter, or colored sugar
Instructions:
- Prepare Dough: In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract. Gradually mix in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
- Chill Dough: Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 160°C (320°F).
- Shape Cookies: Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create festive shapes. Arrange the cookies on parchment paper that fits the air fryer basket.
- Bake Cookies: Air fry the cookies in batches for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool completely before decorating.
- Decorate: Mix powdered sugar with milk to create a glaze. Add food coloring if desired. Decorate the cookies with icing and sprinkles.
Nutritional Information (Per Cookie):
- Calories: 110
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Sodium: 10mg
Notes:
- Add a teaspoon of almond or lemon extract for a flavor variation.
- Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container for up to a week; decorate as needed.
- Involve kids in decorating for a fun holiday activity.
Let me know if you’d like more festive baking ideas or variations! 😊