Get ready to transform your holiday baking game with these mouthwatering Christmas shortbread sandwich cookies that are guaranteed to become the star of your festive dessert table! Imagine delicate, buttery shortbread cookies with a delightful jam or frosting center that melts in your mouth and fills your kitchen with the most irresistible aroma of holiday cheer. These elegant treats are not just cookies; they're edible memories waiting to be created, perfect for sharing with loved ones or impressing guests at your next holiday gathering.
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Cuisine: British
Serves: 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup jam or frosting for filling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and powdered sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt to the butter-sugar mixture, and mix until well combined.
- Gradually sift in the all-purpose flour, mixing on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Be careful not to overmix; stop as soon as the flour is incorporated.
- Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 15 minutes. This will make it easier to roll out and cut the cookies.
- Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Using a cookie cutter (preferably in festive shapes like stars, trees, or circles), cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out the centers of half of the cookies if you want to create a sandwich effect. This will allow the filling to show through.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking.
- Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread a layer of jam or frosting on the flat side of the solid cookies. Top with the cookies that have cut-out centers to create sandwiches.
- Optional: Dust the finished sandwich cookies with additional powdered sugar for a festive touch before serving.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze them for longer storage.
Tips
- Use room temperature butter for the smoothest, creamiest dough texture.
- Chill the dough before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain cookie shape.
- For uniform cookies, use a ruler when rolling out the dough to ensure consistent thickness.
- Choose high-quality jam or make your own frosting for the most delicious filling.
- Let cookies cool completely before adding filling to prevent soggy results.
- Experiment with different festive cookie cutter shapes for added visual appeal.
- If the dough becomes too soft while working, refrigerate it for a few minutes.
- Use a fine-mesh sieve for an even dusting of powdered sugar.
- Store cookies between layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- For extra flavor, try adding orange zest or almond extract to the dough.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 140kcal
Carbohydrates: 12g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 25mg
