Get ready to transform your kitchen into a cozy autumn wonderland with these irresistible Fall Leaf Cookies that capture the essence of the season in every delightful bite! Imagine crisp, buttery cookies shaped like beautiful autumn leaves, bringing the magic of fall right to your table. Whether you're looking to impress guests, create a fun baking activity with kids, or simply indulge in a seasonal treat, these cookies are your perfect companion to celebrate the warmth and colors of autumn.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This will ensure that the leavening agent is evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Continue to beat until well combined and smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients from the medium bowl to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
- If desired, divide the dough into separate bowls and add food coloring to create different colored doughs for your leaf cookies. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. If the dough is sticky, you can sprinkle a little more flour on the surface and the rolling pin.
- Using leaf-shaped cookie cutters, cut out cookies from the rolled dough. Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Once all the cookies are cut and placed on the baking sheets, you can optionally sprinkle some sugar on top for added sweetness and texture.
- 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.
- 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 cooled, you can decorate the cookies with icing or sprinkles if desired, or enjoy them as is!
Tips
- Ensure your butter is truly softened but not melted for the perfect cookie texture.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling if it feels too soft, which helps prevent spreading during baking.
- Use multiple fall-inspired food colors like deep orange, burgundy, and golden yellow to create a vibrant leaf collection.
- Invest in quality leaf-shaped cookie cutters for the most authentic autumn design.
- Let cookies cool completely before decorating to prevent icing from melting.
- Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to maintain their crisp texture.
- For an extra festive touch, consider dusting cookies with edible gold or bronze shimmer dust.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 109kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: mg
