Description
Celebrate the festive season with Twisted Christmas Cookies, featuring buttery, almond- and orange-scented dough cut into fun holiday shapes and beautifully decorated with glossy, colorful royal icing. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, these cookies combine classic flavors with eye-catching designs and a touch of sparkle.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 14 oz (400g) butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract (for a festive flavor lift)
- Zest of 1 orange (optional, for brightness)
- 6 cups plain flour
For the Icing:
- 6 tbsp meringue powder
- 8 tbsp water
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 7 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- Extra water (for thinning)
- Gel food coloring (red, green, gold, white)
- Sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates a tender texture for your cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest into the butter-sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined to infuse your dough with festive flavors.
- Mix in Flour: Gradually add the plain flour into the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough feels too dry or crumbly, add a tablespoon of milk to bring it together smoothly.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters such as trees, stars, and mittens to cut out shapes, embracing the Christmas spirit.
- Chill the Cookies: Place the cut dough shapes on the prepared baking sheets and chill them in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to help maintain shape during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden. This ensures a perfectly baked, crisp edge with a tender center.
- Cool Completely: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on wire racks before icing. This prevents the icing from melting.
- Prepare Icing: In a bowl, whisk together the meringue powder, lemon juice, and water. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar while beating until the icing is glossy and thick. Thin the mixture with a little extra water if needed for desired consistency.
- Decorate the Cookies: Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint with gel food coloring in red, green, gold, and white. Decorate your cooled cookies with the colored icing using piping bags or spatulas, then add sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes for extra festive flair.
- Let Set: Allow the decorated cookies to sit at room temperature until the icing hardens completely, which may take a few hours. This ensures the decorations are firm and perfect for handling or gifting.
Notes
- For a brighter citrus flavor, be sure to use fresh orange zest in the dough.
- If the dough is too sticky, refrigerate a bit longer before rolling.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant icing colors without altering the icing consistency.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Allow icing to fully harden before stacking cookies to avoid smudging decorations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 30g)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
