Holly Jolly Santa Cookies Recipe

Easy, festive, and enjoyable...Santa Cookies—Tis the Season! Easy round ball-shaped vanilla sugar cookies fashioned into the cutest, fattest Santas. A creamy whipped cream cheese frosting makes the ultimate Christmas cookie. Fun to create, tasty, a fantastic handcrafted present, and a festive holiday cookie box addition! 

Ingredient

– 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, at room temperature – 1/2 cup granulated sugar – 1 large egg, at room temperature – 2 teaspoons vanilla extract – 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour –▢1/2 teaspoon kosher salt – 1-2 teaspoons red food coloring – Mini chocolate chips (for eyes and buttons) – Mini holiday M + M s (for Santa's nose) CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM – 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, at room temperature – 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (optional) – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – 1 1/2 cups powder sugar

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1

Heat oven to 350. Two baking sheets; parchment. Stir butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl for 3-5 minutes until foamy. Add egg. Beat. Add flour and salt and beat until a ball forms. 

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Instruction

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2

Reserve 1 cup dough. Add 1 teaspoon red food colouring to the remaining dough, adding more if needed. The colour will darken. Make one 1-inch and five 1/2-inch red cookie dough balls. 

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3

Make 1 (3/4-inch) and 5 (1/4-inch) balls from regular cookie dough. Includes torso, head, hat, four red arms, four white hands, and a white cap ball. I find it easiest to make all parts before assembly. 

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4

On the baking sheet, gently flatten the red 1-inch ball to 1/2 inch thick. For limbs and legs, attach four red 1/2-inch balls. Attach a 3/4-inch ball as a head and carefully flatten to 1/2 inch thick.  

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5

Simply attach 1/4-inch hand and foot balls. Shape and attach the last red 1/2-inch ball into a hat triangle. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet.  

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6

Bake Santa's for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Make frosting. Beat butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer for 3–4 minutes until fluffy. Adding vanilla and powdered sugar. Whip 2 more minutes. 

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7

Decorate. Fill a small-tip piping bag with half the frosting. Or, cut a little ziplock bag corner. Go around Santa's face, arms, and legs with the bag. Attach a small dot to his helmet and a red mini M&M to his nose. 

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also see

also see

Salted Pretzel Cowboy Party Cookies Recipe