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Soft Festive Treats

Featured in Sweet bites of pure joy.

These incredibly soft cookies are the ultimate holiday treat. The dough comes together quickly with vanilla, almond extract, and a touch of cream cheese for unbeatable softness. They hold their shape beautifully after baking, giving you a perfect base for decorating with icing, sprinkles, or sugar. They're delicious on their own but truly shine with your festive creativity.
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alicia in the kitchen
Updated on Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:37:59 GMT
A platter of colorful Christmas cookies shaped like stars, trees, and snowflakes, perfectly decorated for the holidays. Pin it
A platter of colorful Christmas cookies shaped like stars, trees, and snowflakes, perfectly decorated for the holidays. | tasteofsavor.com

You know those super soft cookies everyone makes during the holidays? These are just that! They're sweet, pillowy, and fun to whip up. Gather your crew and get decorating or sharing with whoever shows up at your door. The best part? You need only a handful of classic baking stuff. Whether you're cranking out a batch for a cozy family baking night or packing them up for a party, folks won't stop talking about them. Let's jump into what you'll need!

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Gives the dough that rich, sweet background flavor.
  • 2 large eggs: Keeps everything moist and holds the dough together.
  • 1 cup margarine (softened): The secret to cookies that melt in your mouth and stay chewy.
  • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour: Makes the cookies hold their shape but stay soft.
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar: Makes 'em sweet and keeps 'em tender.
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder: Helps lift the cookies just enough so they're light, not dense.
  • ½ teaspoon salt: Balances out all the sweet and makes the flavors pop.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 8:
Once baked, let your cookies chill out on the pan just a bit, then move them to a rack so they cool totally.
Step 7:
Sprinkle your counter with a little flour, roll the dough out to about a quarter inch thick, grab your favorite cutters, and stack the shapes on the greased cookie sheets.
Step 6:
Fire up your oven to 400°F (that's 200°C), and get two baking trays slicked up with a little grease.
Step 5:
Scoop up your dough, wrap it tight in some plastic wrap, and let it hang out in the fridge for two hours. Chilling keeps your cookies from spreading everywhere.
Step 4:
Start folding in the dry stuff you set aside earlier. Go slow and don't over-stir or your cookies'll lose that soft bite.
Step 3:
Crack in one egg first, blend it up, then toss in the next egg plus your vanilla. Stir till you can't tell the eggs from the dough.
Step 2:
In a fresh bowl, grab your mixer and blend that soft margarine with sugar ’til it’s super smooth and fluffy.
Step 1:
Take a medium-sized bowl and sift in your flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix that around and set it aside for later.

Serving and Storage Tips

  • If you're feeling creative, frost these soft cookies and shower them in sprinkles for an extra pop.
  • Passing them out at parties or making them the star of a cookie swap? Slide a bunch into pretty bags or tins for that wow factor.
  • Keep these cookies fresh in a sealed container right on your counter, and they'll be tasty all week.
  • Got extras? Freeze after cooling completely. They'll hang out in your freezer for up to three months. Just let 'em defrost before diving in or going wild with the decorations.

Ideas From Famous Chefs

  • Martha Stewart says to go with royal icing if you want that fancy holiday finish.
  • Ina Garten loves sprinkling sanding sugar on top of dough before baking. It’ll shine and crunch once they’re out!

VARIATIONS

  • If you want gluten-free cookies, swap in a gluten-free flour mix that works for baking.
  • Mix in cinnamon or nutmeg right into the dough for some holiday spice vibes.
  • Got a bunch of different cookie cutters? Use all kinds of shapes—these cookies work for birthdays, parties, anytime really.

Soft Festive Treats

Soft festive treats that are fun to decorate and perfect for spreading holiday cheer. Sweet, soft, and easy for any occasion.

Prep Time
140 Minutes
Cook Time
8 Minutes
Total Time
148 Minutes
By: Alicia

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (24 cookies)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 cup soft margarine.
02 1 ½ cups granulated sugar.
03 2 large eggs.
04 ½ teaspoon table salt.
05 2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring.
06 3 ¾ cups plain flour.
07 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

Instructions

Step 01

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the salt, flour, and baking powder by sifting them. Put the bowl aside for later.

Step 02

Using an electric mixer, cream the margarine and sugar in a big bowl until smooth. Wrap the mixture and pop it in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.

Step 03

Mix the first egg into the creamed sugar and butter. Then stir in the second egg along with the vanilla.

Step 04

Take the dry ingredients and fold them into the wet mixture. Stop mixing as soon as they’re combined.

Step 05

Wrap the dough again and let it chill in the fridge for another 2 hours.

Step 06

Turn your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it warms up. Grease two cookie sheets while you wait.

Step 07

Dust a clean surface with flour and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to make shapes, and then place them on the greased cookie sheets.

Step 08

Bake each batch for around 6 to 8 minutes, watching for golden edges. Let them cool a bit on the cookie sheets before moving them to a wire rack to cool fully.

Notes

  1. These soft Christmas treats are great for decorating and celebrating the holidays.
  2. Make sure to chill the dough so it keeps its shape when baking.

Tools You'll Need

  • A handheld or stand mixer.
  • A regular mixing bowl.
  • Baking sheets.
  • Cooling rack.
  • Sieve.
  • A rolling pin.
  • Shape cutters.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 150
  • Total Fat: 7 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 20 g
  • Protein: 2 g