Holiday Cut Outs
Holiday Cut Outs are festive cookies perfect for decorating with seasonal shapes like trees, angels, or bells. With a buttery, vanilla flavor and a tender texture, they are ideal for cookie exchanges, family gatherings, or holiday celebrations that bring together loved ones for sweet fun.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cream the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg.
- Add vanilla extract.
- Sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture.
- Add heavy cream and mix very well until the dough is smooth.
- Chill the dough for several hours.
- Roll the dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a floured surface.
- Cut out shapes using cookie cutters such as trees, angels, or bells.
- Decorate as desired.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8 to 10 minutes.
Tips & Substitutions
For best results, use room temperature butter to ensure it creams smoothly with the sugar. If you don’t have heavy cream, you can substitute with milk or a non-dairy alternative, but the texture may vary slightly. For added flavor, consider incorporating a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon into the dough. Chilling the dough is crucial for easier handling and better-shaped cookies.
Serving Suggestions
These festive cut-outs are perfect for holiday gatherings, making them an excellent companion to a cup of hot cocoa or coffee. Consider serving them alongside Homemade Pimento And Cheese Spread for a sweet and savory snack platter. They also make delightful gifts when packaged in decorative boxes or tins.
Storage & Reheating
Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze the cut-out cookies before baking, placing parchment paper between layers. When ready to enjoy, bake them directly from the freezer, adding a minute or two to the baking time for a fresh taste.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Holiday Cut Outs contains roughly 637 calories, with 7g protein, 46g carbohydrates, and 46g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (57% of the Daily Value) and vitamin C (25% of the Daily Value), and a good source of calcium and protein. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1709mg per serving (74% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
Yes, you can substitute whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour, but the texture will be denser. Start with half whole wheat and half all-purpose if you want to maintain a lighter texture while adding more fiber.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking?
To prevent spreading, ensure your butter is softened but not melted. Chilling the dough before rolling it out also helps maintain the shape during baking. Additionally, using a baking sheet lined with parchment paper can help keep the cookies intact.
What can I use for decorating these cookies?
You can use royal icing, fondant, or simple powdered sugar glaze for decorating. Sprinkles, edible glitter, and colored sugars also add a festive touch. For a fun twist, try using colored icing to create designs inspired by Sugar And Spice Cookies.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).