Santa Cookie Recipe with Vanilla Frosting Recipe
This festive Santa Cookie Recipe features soft, buttery cookies flavored with vanilla and a touch of hazelnut liquor, topped with a smooth vanilla buttercream frosting and decorated with colorful sprinkles to create a delightful holiday treat perfect for celebrations and gift-giving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut liquor (optional)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus an additional 2-4 tablespoons if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Vanilla Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Assorted sprinkles, vanilla sugar, and/or sanding sugar, for decorating
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter, at room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature salted butter and packed light brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the hazelnut liquor if using and the vanilla extract, mixing well to combine. Beat in the egg until fully incorporated.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Add additional flour (2-4 tablespoons) if the dough feels too soft or sticky.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up, which will make it easier to roll and cut.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use Santa-themed cookie cutters or desired shapes to cut the cookies and place them on an ungreased baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Vanilla Buttercream: While cookies cool, beat together the room temperature salted butter and cream cheese (if using) until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy and the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
- Frost and Decorate: Once cookies are completely cool, spread a generous layer of vanilla buttercream on each. Decorate immediately with assorted sprinkles, vanilla sugar, or sanding sugar to create a festive appearance.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and egg are at room temperature for better mixing and dough consistency.
- If you do not have hazelnut liquor, you can omit it or substitute with vanilla or almond extract for variety.
- Chilling the dough is crucial to maintain cookie shape during baking.
- For easier cleanup and even baking, line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- The cream cheese in the buttercream is optional but adds a tangy richness that complements the vanilla flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Keywords: Santa cookies, vanilla frosting, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, buttercream frosting, festive sugar cookies