Description
These Spiced Christmas Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring warm spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Soft and chewy with a slight sugar crunch on the outside, they are perfect for sharing during festive gatherings or enjoying with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed. Continue beating for about 3-4 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and keep the dough soft.
- Chill Dough: Place the dough into the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes. This makes the dough easier to handle and shapes better during baking.
- Form Dough Balls: Remove the chilled dough and scoop tablespoon-sized portions, then roll each into smooth balls using your hands.
- Roll in Sugar: Roll each dough ball in the additional 1/4 cup granulated sugar to coat evenly, which will give the cookies a slight crunchy exterior once baked.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the sugared dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden but centers remain soft.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, ensuring the perfect soft yet crisp texture.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential for easy handling and helps maintain the shape during baking.
- Do not overbake; slightly underbaking ensures the cookies stay soft in the center.
- For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon on top before baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week for best freshness.
