Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies

Oh my gosh, these Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies are pure holiday magic! I mean, who doesn’t love a cozy, buttery cookie that tastes like Christmas in every bite? I seriously can’t stop munching on them.

They’ve got this warm, sweet spice that makes my kitchen smell like a winter wonderland. It’s kinda like hugging a mug of hot cocoa, but, you know, in cookie form. And they’re soooo easy to make.

I promise, once you try them, you’ll wanna bake batch after batch. I even gift them to my friends, and they always beg for more. These little treats bring so much joy.

So let’s bake together and fill our homes with all those happy holiday feels. Trust me, your heart (and tummy) will thank you. Let’s get that dough going!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A Holiday Favorite: These spiced shortbread cookies are perfect for holiday baking, featuring classic Christmas flavors.
• Easy to Make: With just a handful of ingredients, you can create buttery, crisp cookies in no time.
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: The shortbread dough creates a delicate, crumbly texture that pairs perfectly with the warm spices.
• Customizable: These cookies are perfect for decorating or dipping in chocolate for a festive twist.
• Perfect for Gifting: Pack them up in a cute box or tin for an easy and thoughtful holiday gift.

Required Kitchen Tools

Before we start, gather the following tools to make these Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies:

• Mixing Bowls: You’ll need two for mixing your dry ingredients and the wet ingredients.
• Hand or Stand Mixer: To cream the butter and sugar together.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: To ensure you have the right proportions.
• Rolling Pin: To roll out the dough evenly.
• Baking Sheets: To bake your cookies on. Lining them with parchment paper helps to prevent sticking.
• Cookie Cutters: Choose festive shapes like stars, Christmas trees, or snowflakes to add a touch of fun.
• Cooling Rack: For cooling the cookies once they’re baked.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these spiced shortbread cookies:

For the Cookie Dough:

• All-purpose flour: 3 cups (360 grams) – The base for the shortbread dough.
• Baking soda: 1 teaspoon – Helps give the cookies a light texture.
• Baking powder: 1 teaspoon – Provides lift and structure.
• Cinnamon: 2 teaspoons – Adds a warm, aromatic flavor that screams Christmas.
• Nutmeg: ½ teaspoon – A classic holiday spice with a sweet, nutty flavor.
• Ground ginger: ½ teaspoon – Brings a little warmth and spice to the dough.
• Ground cloves: ½ teaspoon – A deep, aromatic spice that pairs beautifully with the other flavors.
• Salt: ½ teaspoon – Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness.
• Unsalted butter: 1 cup (226 grams), at room temperature – This is the base of shortbread and gives it that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Granulated sugar: ¾ cup (149 grams) – Sweetens the dough and helps to achieve a crisp texture.
• Brown sugar: ¾ cup (160 grams) – Adds moisture and a rich, caramel-like flavor.
• Pumpkin puree: 1 cup (227 grams) – Not only does it add flavor, but it also helps create a soft, chewy texture in the shortbread.
• Egg: 1 large – Acts as a binding agent for the dough.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional):

• Cream cheese: 8 oz (226 grams), softened – Adds a rich and tangy flavor to the frosting.
• Unsalted butter: ½ cup (113 grams), softened – Helps create a smooth and creamy texture for the frosting.
• Vanilla extract: 1 ½ teaspoons – Adds a rich, aromatic flavor that complements the cookies.
• Powdered sugar: 3-4 cups (350-340 grams) – This sweetens the frosting and gives it the right consistency for spreading.
• Salt (optional): 1/8 teaspoon – Enhances the flavor of the frosting.
• Milk or heavy cream (optional): A splash, if needed, to adjust the frosting’s consistency.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies

1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, cloves, and salt. This ensures the spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the dough, ensuring that each cookie is perfectly flavored.

2. Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature butter and both granulated and brown sugars together until light and fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer for this step. This process should take about 2-3 minutes. The butter should be soft but not melted, as this helps to create a crumbly texture for the shortbread.

3. Add the Pumpkin Puree and Egg

Once the butter and sugar are creamed together, add the pumpkin puree and egg to the bowl. Mix until everything is well combined. The pumpkin puree adds moisture and a lovely flavor, making these cookies extra tender.

4. Incorporate the Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed to prevent a mess. Once everything is combined, the dough will be thick and slightly sticky. If it’s too sticky to handle, add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until you can roll it out easily.

5. Chill the Dough

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking and allows the flavors to meld.

6. Roll Out the Dough

Once the dough is chilled, turn it out onto a floured surface and roll it to about ¼-inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Christmas tree, star, and snowflake shapes are perfect for this festive season.

7. Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking. Place the cut-out cookies on the baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look a little soft, but they’ll firm up as the cookies cool. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t overbake, as shortbread cookies can quickly turn from golden to overdone.

8. Cool the Cookies

Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up without breaking.

9. Frosting (Optional)

If you’d like to add frosting to your cookies, beat the cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar, beating until the frosting reaches a thick, spreadable consistency. If the frosting is too thick, add a little milk or heavy cream to loosen it up.

Once the cookies have cooled completely, frost them with the cream cheese frosting and let the frosting set before serving.

Serving and Decoration Ideas

How to Serve Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies

These cookies are wonderful served as they are, or you can get creative with your presentation:

• Decorate with Sprinkles: After frosting the cookies, add festive sprinkles or colored sugar for a holiday touch.
• Dip in Chocolate: For an extra indulgent treat, dip half of each cookie in melted white or dark chocolate.
• Sandwich the Cookies: Use the frosting to make cookie sandwiches by pairing two cookies together.
• Package for Gifting: Place the cookies in a cute box or tin and gift them to friends and family for a personalized touch.
• Enjoy with Hot Cocoa or Coffee: These cookies are perfect for pairing with a warm beverage during the winter season.

Storing Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies

• Unfrosted Cookies: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• Frosted Cookies: If the cookies are frosted, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent the frosting from melting. They’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: You can freeze both the unbaked cookie dough and baked cookies. To freeze dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. For baked cookies, place them in a single layer in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw at room temperature before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies (Per Cookie)

Nutrition Info	Amount per serving
Calories	120 kcal
Total Fat	7g
Saturated Fat	4g
Cholesterol	20mg
Sodium	50mg
Total Carbohydrates	15g
Dietary Fiber	0g
Sugars	9g
Protein	1g

Conclusion

These Christmas Spiced Shortbread Cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday baking. With their rich, buttery texture and warm spice blend, they’re guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday gathering. Whether you’re serving them at a festive party, enjoying them with a hot beverage by the fire, or gifting them to loved ones, these cookies are sure to bring some extra cheer to your holiday season. Happy baking!