Although I don’t make multi-batches of seven different types of cookies anymore as holiday gifts, one new tradition that I enjoy is baking cookies for Santa with Bebe E. That is, just one type of cookie for Santa. :) Last year, we tried a sugar cookie recipe which I will share another day, but it was a classic recipe but I much prefer this chewy sugar cookie recipe that I share with you today. It’s definitely a new favorite!
The shapes of our cookies for Santa are simple: gingerbread men, Christmas trees, and snowflakes. I have more cookie cutters but for some reason I still can’t find all of my cookie cutters! They’ve been missing for two years… One of these days I’ll find them all.
We used green sprinkles that we already had, along with some leftover Valentine’s Day pink, red and white sprinkles. These were more than enough to achieve a happy festive cookie for “Santee” which is what Bebe E has taken to calling good ol’ St. Nick.
Bebe E had a grand ol’ time decorating Santa’s cookies with sprinkles that were piled on high. Aya-chan came over and helped Bebe E roll out the dough, cut the cookies, and decorate them. You can easily tell which cookies Aya-chan decorated: those that are dusted with just a few sprinkles. Personally, I prefer the cookies that are barely dusted with sprinkles but my brother likes the ones with at least an inch of sprinkles piled on. There was a perfectly decorated cookie for everyone in our family at our Christmas lunch.
We were pleased to discover that this recipe indeed resulted in CHEWY sugar cookies. The key is to make sure that the cookies are not over baked and cooked just until they are set, about 8 minutes, depending on your oven. This cookie recipe is definitely a keeper and moving forward, will be an annual tradition.
After we baked cookies, Bebe E selected the cookies that she wanted to leave for Santa. The ones she selected were big cookies. No wonder Santa has a jolly good big belly!
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 1½ cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons milk (buttermilk optional)
- Sprinkles or colored sugar, for decorating
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in dry ingredients. Add enough of the milk to moisten the dough and make it soft, not wet.
- Chill dough for about an hour. Roll out dough onto floured board. Using cookie cutters, cut shapes. Sprinkle with raw sugar or colored sprinkles.
- You can also roll the cookies in the sugar sprinkles before baking.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until barely golden. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to cool on a rack.