top of page

Santa Cookies

INGREDIENTS


  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • 1 large egg, at room temperature

  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon red food coloring

  • Mini chocolate chips, for decorating

  • Mini holiday M&Ms, for decorating

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • ½ cup (1 stick) Mapel Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature

  • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar

Photo of Santa Cookies

PREPARATION

1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until combined. Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough begins to form a ball.
3. Remove 1 cup of the dough and set aside. With the remaining dough, add in 1 teaspoon red food coloring.
4. From the red cookie dough, make 1 (1-inch) ball and 5 (1/2-inch) balls. From the plain cookie dough, make 1 (3/4 inch) ball and 5 (1/4-inch) balls. You will have a body, head, hat, four red arms and four white hands and a white ball for the top of the hat. Note: may make all parts first, then assemble.
5. On the prepared baking sheet, place the red 1-inch ball, gently flatten until 1/2 inch thick. Attach four of the red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Next, attach the plain 3/4-inch ball for a head, gently flatten until 1/2 inch thick. Attach the plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape the remaining red 1/2-inch ball into a triangle for a hat and attach it. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging the cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Add chocolate pieces for eyes and buttons. 6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden.
7. To make the frosting: in a medium bowl beat together the butter and cream cheese until lightly and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until combined.  
8. To decorate: place half of the frosting in a piping bag with a small tip to line Santa’s arms and legs. Place the other half of the frosting in another piping bag with a small open star tip to add Santa’s beard, hat, and hands. Put a small dot of icing in between his eyes and beard and place a red mini M&M on his face for his nose.

Recipe adapted from Half Baked Harvest

bottom of page