Brown Sugar Cut-Out Christmas Cookies
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter and light brown sugar together on medium-high speed. Continue for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well-combined.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is mixed evenly.
- In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Whisking helps remove lumps and distributes the leavening agent throughout the flour.
- Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until the flour streaks disappear. Do not overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
- Divide the dough into two flat discs and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Chilling the dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite Christmas cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely starting to turn golden brown. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once they are fully cool, they are ready for frosting or decorating!