Description
These Christmas Shortbread Cookies are buttery, tender, and deliciously festive. Featuring a classic shortbread base with a hint of vanilla bean paste, they’re elegantly finished with melted white chocolate and holiday sprinkles for a perfect seasonal treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Topping
- 1 ½ cups Ghirardelli white chocolate wafers or vanilla almond bark, melted
- ¼ cup holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla bean paste and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients: Stir in the all-purpose flour and kosher salt until the mixture is combined. If the dough feels crumbly, use your hands to fully knead and bring it together.
- Shape and chill dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it into a 12-inch log. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Slice and bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the chilled dough log into thin rounds and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 14 minutes or until the edges begin to lightly brown.
- Decorate cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely, then spread a thin layer of melted white chocolate or vanilla almond bark on each cookie. Immediately top with holiday sprinkles and let set for about 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, you can substitute one whole vanilla bean scraped for an intense vanilla flavor.
- Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
- You can freeze baked cookies for up to three months. Thaw them completely before adding melted white chocolate and sprinkles.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup after baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
