Irresistible Chocolate-Dipped Holiday Butter Cookies: Your Ultimate Christmas Baking Guide
There’s nothing quite like the magic of homemade cookies during the holiday season. These classic holiday butter cookies are the epitome of festive cheer, offering a delightful blend of rich, buttery flavor and a wonderfully delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Each perfectly piped cookie is lovingly coated in smooth, decadent chocolate and adorned with vibrant sprinkles, making them not just a treat for the taste buds, but also a beautiful addition to any holiday platter or cookie exchange. This recipe delivers an incredible shortbread-style cookie that’s remarkably easy to make and guaranteed to become a new family favorite!
You’re going to absolutely adore this Christmas butter cookies recipe. It’s truly bursting with a rich, buttery flavor that’s perfectly complemented by the chocolate coating. Beyond the amazing taste, these cookies are surprisingly simple to prepare, making them an ideal choice for busy holiday bakers. The act of dipping them in melted chocolate elevates their flavor profile and adds an irresistible decadence. Finishing them with classic red and green sprinkles transforms them into picture-perfect holiday treats, ready to impress guests and delight family members. Get ready to bake a batch of joy!
What Exactly Are Butter Cookies?
Butter cookies, often revered for their exquisite simplicity, are a delightful hybrid, sitting somewhere between a traditional sugar cookie and a classic shortbread. What truly sets them apart, however, isn’t just their delicate texture or rich flavor, but their unique preparation method. Unlike many cookie recipes that require chilling the dough before rolling it out and cutting shapes, butter cookies are typically piped directly onto baking sheets. This technique, utilizing a piping bag and a fitted tip, allows for the creation of intricate, beautiful shapes that look almost too charming to eat. Our Christmas butter cookies with sprinkles take this classic concept and infuse it with festive cheer, offering a fun, holiday-themed variation that everyone will enjoy.
Their distinctiveness comes from a higher butter-to-flour ratio compared to many sugar cookies, giving them that signature crumbly, tender texture reminiscent of shortbread. Yet, they retain a delightful sweetness and often a subtle crispness. This unique combination makes them incredibly versatile for holiday baking, as they hold their shape beautifully after piping and baking, providing a perfect canvas for chocolate dipping and decorative sprinkles.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Holiday Butter Cookies
Crafting the perfect batch of holiday butter cookies starts with selecting high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that sought-after delicate texture and rich flavor. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:
Butter: You will need 1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter. It is absolutely essential to soften the butter to room temperature before incorporating it into the recipe. This ensures it creams properly with the sugar, creating a light, airy base for your cookies. Using real, good-quality butter makes a noticeable difference in flavor and texture, so avoid margarine or butter substitutes for the best results.
Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this ingredient is key for both sweetness and texture. Unlike granulated sugar, powdered sugar dissolves more completely into the butter, contributing to the incredibly smooth and tender consistency of these cookies, preventing any graininess.
Egg yolks: This recipe specifically calls for 2 large egg yolks, also at room temperature. Egg yolks add richness, moisture, and help bind the dough without making the cookies tough. The absence of egg whites contributes to the shortbread-like delicate crumb.
Vanilla extract: The higher the quality of the vanilla extract, the more pronounced and wonderful the flavor of your cookies will be. A good pure vanilla extract is indispensable for bringing out the classic buttery notes.
Flour: All-purpose flour is the ideal choice for these butter cookies. You will need 2 cups of flour, plus an additional 3 tablespoons. The precise measurement is important for the right dough consistency, allowing it to be piped easily while maintaining its shape during baking.
Salt: Just a small amount, typically ⅛ teaspoon, of salt is included. This tiny addition is a flavor enhancer, helping all the other ingredients to truly shine and balancing the sweetness.
Milk: A small amount of milk (2-2 ½ tablespoons) is used to achieve the perfect pipeable consistency for the dough. Start with 2 tablespoons and add up to ½ tablespoon more if the dough feels too stiff to pipe smoothly. This ensures beautiful, intricate shapes.
For the Decadent Chocolate Coating:
Semi-sweet chocolate: You have flexibility here! You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips, baking bars chopped into pieces, or even almond bark (also known as confectionery coating). While semi-sweet is specified, feel free to experiment with other types like rich dark chocolate for a more intense flavor, or creamy white chocolate for a different aesthetic and taste profile. All are delicious!
Coconut oil: A small amount, usually ½ teaspoon, of coconut oil is added to the melted chocolate. This helps to thin out the chocolate slightly, making it smoother and easier to dip the cookies into, resulting in a beautifully even and glossy coating. It also helps the chocolate set nicely.
Sprinkles: This is where you can unleash your creativity! For the holidays, red and green Christmas sprinkles are perfect. However, you can use any color or type of sprinkles to customize your butter cookies for any holiday, birthday, or special occasion. Nonpareils, jimmies, or even edible glitter can add a touch of sparkle.
How to Make These Delightful Holiday Butter Cookies
Follow these detailed steps to create your own batch of buttery, chocolate-dipped wonders:
First, prepare your baking surface by lining baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures easy cleanup. Set them aside as you prepare the dough.
MAKE THE COOKIE DOUGH
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream them together until the mixture is light in color and fluffy. This process usually takes about 3-4 minutes. Proper creaming incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ tender texture.
Next, add the two room-temperature egg yolks and the vanilla extract. Continue to mix with the hand mixer for another 2-3 minutes, ensuring all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth.
Finally, add the measured flour, salt, and milk. Mix on low speed just until the dough comes together. Overmixing flour can develop gluten and lead to tough cookies, so as soon as it’s mostly combined, switch to a rubber spatula and finish mixing by hand, gently folding until no dry streaks of flour remain.
PIPE THE COOKIES
Transfer the cookie dough into a piping bag fitted with your chosen tip. For classic butter cookie shapes, a large open star tip like the Wilton 1M is excellent and easy to use. Remember, if you opt for a tip with a larger opening, your cookies will naturally spread a little more during baking. Practice a few shapes on a spare piece of parchment if you’re new to piping.
Pipe the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to account for slight spreading. Once all your cookies are piped, place the baking sheets into the refrigerator to chill for approximately 45 minutes. This crucial chilling step helps the cookies hold their intricate piped shapes during baking and prevents excessive spreading.
BAKE THE COOKIES
While the cookies are chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake the chilled cookies for 15-17 minutes, or until their edges are lightly browned. The centers should still be pale. Thanks to adequate chilling, they should not spread much and will retain their beautiful shapes. Keep a close eye on them, as oven temperatures can vary.
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for about 15 minutes. This allows them to firm up before you carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Cooling completely is essential before dipping in chocolate.
DIP THE COOKIES IN CHOCOLATE
Once your cookies are completely cool, it’s time for the delicious chocolate coating. Place your chosen chocolate (chips, chopped bar, or almond bark) in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in 20-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each interval, until it is entirely melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat it, as chocolate can seize.
Stir in the ½ teaspoon of coconut oil until it is fully melted and incorporated into the chocolate. This makes the chocolate smoother and easier to work with.
Dip about half of each cooled cookie into the melted chocolate. Allow any excess chocolate to drip off, then immediately top with your favorite Christmas sprinkles before the chocolate sets. Place the dipped cookies onto cooling racks or baking trays lined with fresh parchment paper. For the chocolate to set quickly and firmly, place the trays of dipped cookies in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes.
Holiday Butter Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 large egg yolks room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour + 3 Tbsp
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 2-2 ½ tablespoons milk
CHOCOLATE COATING
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil
- festive sprinkles
Instructions
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Line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy release and set them aside.
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MAKE THE COOKIE DOUGH: In a medium bowl, cream the softened butter and powdered sugar together using a hand mixer on medium speed. Continue mixing for about 3-4 minutes until the mixture is visibly lighter in color and fluffy.
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Add the room-temperature egg yolks and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture. Mix for another 2-3 minutes until fully incorporated and smooth.
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Gradually add the all-purpose flour, salt, and milk to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the dough is just combined. Finish mixing with a rubber spatula, ensuring no dry flour pockets remain, being careful not to overmix.
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PIPE THE COOKIES: Transfer the cookie dough into a piping bag fitted with your desired tip (a Wilton 1M star tip works wonderfully for classic shapes).
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Pipe the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving approximately 2 inches between each cookie. Once piped, place the baking sheets in the refrigerator to chill for about 45 minutes. This step is essential for maintaining their shape.
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BAKE THE COOKIES: While the cookies are chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Bake the chilled cookies for 15-17 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers should remain pale. They should retain their piped shape well due to the chilling.
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After baking, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about 15 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
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DIP THE COOKIES IN CHOCOLATE: Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring thoroughly between each interval until completely smooth. Stir in the coconut oil until melted and fully incorporated.
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Dip about half of each cooled cookie into the melted chocolate. Allow excess chocolate to drip off, then immediately decorate with your favorite Christmas sprinkles. Place the dipped cookies on cooling racks or baking trays lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until the chocolate has fully set, about 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition
Tips for Softening Butter to Perfection
Achieving perfectly softened butter is a foundational step for many baking recipes, especially for butter cookies where the texture relies heavily on it. Overly soft or melted butter can result in greasy, flat cookies, while cold butter won’t cream properly with sugar, leading to a dense texture. Here’s a reliable method:
My preferred way to soften butter quickly and evenly is by utilizing the defrost function on my microwave. If you need a full stick (1/2 cup) of butter, you can often leave it in its paper wrapper. For smaller amounts, or if you prefer more control, place the desired amount of butter into a glass or porcelain bowl. Set your microwave to its lowest defrost setting and run it for short intervals, typically 20 seconds initially. After 20 seconds, check the butter’s softness by gently pressing it with a rubber spatula or your finger. You’re looking for an indentation to form easily without the butter feeling greasy or melted. If it’s still too firm, continue to warm it in shorter bursts of 5-10 seconds, checking after each interval. It’s crucial to watch it very closely, as butter can go from perfectly softened to melted very quickly, and melted butter will compromise the cookie dough’s texture significantly.
Storage and Shelf Life: How Long Do Holiday Butter Cookies Last?
These delightful holiday butter cookies are wonderful to make ahead, and knowing how to store them properly ensures they stay fresh and delicious. If kept in an airtight container, these cookies can remain fresh at room temperature for up to 2 days. For extended freshness, especially if you live in a warm climate or simply want to savor them longer, storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator will keep them good for up to a week. Always ensure they are completely cool before storing to prevent condensation, which can make them soggy.
Can Butter Cookies Be Frozen? A Guide to Freezing for Future Enjoyment
Absolutely! Butter cookies are excellent candidates for freezing, allowing you to prepare them well in advance of your holiday festivities or simply to have a stash of delicious treats on hand. You can freeze these cookies in an airtight container or a heavy-duty zip-top freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply allow the cookies to thaw at room temperature before serving.
However, a crucial tip for freezing: I do not recommend freezing the cookies once they have been dipped in chocolate. The chocolate coating has a tendency to “sweat” or develop a dull, mottled appearance as it thaws, due to moisture changes. To ensure your chocolate-dipped cookies look their best, it’s best to freeze the plain, baked butter cookies first. Once they have thawed completely, you can then proceed with the chocolate dipping and sprinkle application as instructed in the recipe. This method ensures your decorated cookies are fresh and visually appealing every time.
Explore More Festive Holiday Cookie Recipes!
The holiday season is synonymous with baking, and there’s no limit to the delicious creations you can whip up. If you loved these classic chocolate-dipped butter cookies, you’ll certainly want to explore other festive options to complete your holiday cookie platter. From spiced delights to beautifully decorated cut-outs, our collection of holiday cookie recipes offers something for everyone. Dive into more baking adventures with these fantastic recipes:
- Stacked Christmas Tree Cookies: Impressive and fun, these layered cookies are a showstopper.
- Holiday Spiced Snickerdoodles: A warm, comforting twist on a classic, with extra festive spices.
- Christmas Cut Out Cookies: The quintessential holiday cookie, perfect for decorating with royal icing.
- Holiday Star Cookies: Elegant and simple star-shaped cookies, often glazed or sprinkled.
- Spiced Christmas Shortbread Cookies: Rich, buttery shortbread infused with aromatic holiday spices.
- Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars: All the flavor of sugar cookies in an easy-to-make bar form, great for crowds.
- Classic Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe: A timeless recipe for soft, delicious sugar cookies.
- Mint Christmas Cookies: Refreshing mint flavor combined with chocolate for a festive treat.
- Mini Sugar Cookie Bites: Tiny, adorable sugar cookies perfect for snacking or decorating.
- Christmas Brownie Cookies: A rich, fudgy brownie experience in cookie form.
- No Bake Gingerbread Cookies: Quick and easy, these gingerbread cookies require no oven time.
Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or a festive gathering, these classic holiday butter cookies, with their irresistibly buttery dough, delicate texture, and fun chocolate and sprinkle coating, are guaranteed to bring smiles. They embody the spirit of the holidays in every fantastic bite!