Description
Delightful Christmas shortbread cookie bites sparkle with festive charm, offering a melt-in-your-mouth experience of holiday magic. Crisp, buttery, and dusted with cheerful spirit, these bite-sized treats invite sweet celebration at your seasonal gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (40 g) holiday sprinkles
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Flavoring Ingredient:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and arranging parchment paper on two baking sheets to ensure easy cookie removal and minimal sticking.
- Create a smooth, creamy base by thoroughly blending softened butter with powdered sugar until the mixture achieves a light, fluffy consistency.
- Introduce vanilla extract to the butter mixture, stirring until completely incorporated and releasing its aromatic essence.
- Gradually incorporate flour and salt into the mixture, gently folding until the dough forms a cohesive texture without overworking the ingredients.
- Carefully integrate holiday sprinkles throughout the dough, ensuring an even distribution for consistent color and festive appearance.
- Craft miniature dough spheres approximately marble-sized, using gentle rolling motions to create uniform, bite-sized cookies.
- Strategically place the dough balls on prepared baking sheets, maintaining approximately one inch of space between each cookie to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Position the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as an indicator of perfect doneness.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly and prevent crumbling.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, letting them reach complete room temperature for optimal texture and serving readiness.
- Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container or package them in decorative tins for a charming holiday gift presentation.
Notes
- Soften butter at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before starting to ensure smooth, even mixing and perfect cookie texture.
- Use a cookie scoop or small melon baller for consistently sized cookie bites that bake evenly and look professionally uniform.
- Swap regular sprinkles with gluten-free or vegan sprinkles to accommodate dietary restrictions, making these festive treats accessible for everyone.
- Chill the dough for 15-20 minutes before shaping if it feels too soft, which helps prevent spreading and maintains the compact bite-sized shape during baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 138
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 12 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg