Description
Learn how to make delicious Super Easy Gooey Christmas Butter Cookies. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (can substitute with gluten-free flour blend if needed)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (feel free to swap half with brown sugar for a deeper flavor)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (can use salted butter but reduce added salt)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, but adds a festive warmth)
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional for added texture)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick—trust me, it makes cleanup much easier.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed. I like to do this step thoroughly because it sets the stage for that perfect buttery texture.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, beating until fully incorporated. This is where the cookie dough starts to come together and get that lovely glossy finish.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until just combined. Overmixing can make cookies tough, so stop when you see no more flour streaks.
- If you’re adding chocolate chips or nuts, fold them in now. My son Eli loves when I sneak in mini chips—it’s like a surprise sweet moment in every bite.
- Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. For extra gooeyness, flatten each ball slightly with the back of your spoon or your fingers.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the edges are just starting to turn golden but the centers still look soft. This is your key visual cue for gooey perfection. If you overbake, they’ll lose that melt-in-your-mouth quality that makes these cookies special.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This rest time allows them to firm up just enough while staying soft inside.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Super Easy Gooey Christmas Butter Cookies, recipe, cooking, food
