There’s nothing like the scent of warm spices and rich butter filling the kitchen during the holidaysit just feels like Christmas, doesn’t it? These festive buttery spiced Christmas cookies have been my go-to for years, ever since my Aunt Margie first slid a tin of them across the table at our family’s cookie exchange. One bite of that crisp edge and tender center, packed with cinnamon and nutmeg, and I was hooked. Now, my kids beg me to make them the moment December hits. They’re buttery without being heavy, spiced just rightnot too sweet, not too sharpand disappear faster than any other treat on my holiday platter. Trust me, once you try them, you’ll understand why they’ve become a non-negotiable tradition in our house.
Why You’ll Love These Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies
Oh, where do I even start? These cookies have earned their permanent spot in my holiday baking lineup for three big reasons:
- That irresistible flavor: The combo of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves makes every bite taste like Christmas morning in cookie form
- Super simple to make: No fancy techniques herejust good old-fashioned mixing and baking (perfect for when the kids want to help!)
- Gift-ready magic: Stack them in a pretty tin or tie them with ribbon, and suddenly you’re the most popular person at every holiday party
Seriously, I’ve brought these to dozens of gatherings and always get asked for the recipe. They’re that good.
Ingredients for Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies
Here’s what you’ll need to make these holiday starsand yes, every single ingredient matters! I learned the hard way that skipping the “softened” part for butter leads to lumpy dough, and skimping on spices? Well, let’s just say my first batch tasted more like cardboard than Christmas magic. Here’s the full lineup:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveleddon’t pack it!)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (use the good stuffit makes a difference)
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (freshly grated if you’re feeling fancy)
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves (trust me, this tiny amount packs big flavor)
- 1/2 tsp salt (balances all that sweetness perfectly)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (leave it out 1-2 hourspoke it to test readiness)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (no packing needed here)
- 1 large egg (room temperature mixes in smoother)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (pure, not imitationyou’ll taste the difference)
See that butter note? I’m not kidding about the softening. Cold butter = sad, flat cookies. And don’t even think about substituting margarinewe want that rich, festive flavor!
Equipment You’ll Need
Don’t worryyou won’t need any fancy gadgets for these cookies! Just grab these basics from your kitchen:
- 2 mixing bowls (one for dry ingredients, one for wettrust me, it matters)
- Baking sheets (I always use two so I can rotate batches)
- Parchment paper (no sticking and easy cleanupwin-win!)
- Hand mixer or sturdy wooden spoon (your arm will get a workout if you go old-school)
- Measuring cups and spoons (precision is key with spices)
- Wire rack (for coolingno soggy bottoms allowed!)
That’s it! Now let’s get baking.
How to Make Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies
Okay, let’s dive into the magic! These cookies come together in four simple stepsbut each one makes all the difference in creating that perfect holiday texture. I’ve burned enough batches (and cried over enough crumbly dough) to know these tricks by heart now.
Step 1: Prep Dry Ingredients
First things firstpreheat that oven to 350°F (175°C). Trust me, you don’t want to realize it’s not hot enough when your first tray’s ready to bake! While it heats, grab your biggest mixing bowl and whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Don’t just dump and stirreally whisk it for a good 30 seconds to wake up those spices. I learned this the hard way when I once bit into a cookie with a clump of cinnamonyikes!
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
Now for the fun part! In another bowl, beat that softened butter (poke-test approved!) with sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This takes about 2 minutes with a hand mixer, or 3-4 minutes if you’re going old-school with a wooden spoon (hello, arm workout!). The mixture should look pale yellow and almost like whipped cream when it’s ready. Then crack in the egg and vanilla, mixing just until combinedoverdo it here, and your cookies might spread too much.
Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Here’s where patience pays off. Gradually add your dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three batches, mixing just until the flour disappears after each addition. I like to switch to a spatula for the last bit to avoid overmixingyou want to stop the second time you don’t see any dry patches. The dough will be soft but shouldn’t stick to your fingers. If it does, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes (a trick I learned after a particularly sticky disaster year!).
Step 4: Shape and Bake
Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough between your palmsthey should look like little trufflesand space them about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Gently flatten each one with a fork (I do crisscross patterns because it’s pretty, but a simple press works too). Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn golden but the centers still look slightly softthey’ll firm up as they cool. And here’s my golden rule: let them cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack, or they’ll fall apart faster than holiday plans!
Tips for Perfect Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies
After years of baking (and yes, occasional cookie catastrophes), I’ve collected some foolproof tricks for these festive treats. Firstif you want thicker, bakery-style cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking. It prevents excessive spreading and gives you that perfect soft center. Always double-check your oven temperature with a thermometermine runs hot, and I learned the hard way when a batch turned into crispy hockey pucks! And here’s my secret weapon: bake one test cookie first to check timing. Ovens vary, and that single sacrificial cookie has saved countless batches. Happy baking!
Variations for Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies
Oh, the fun partmaking these cookies your own! My family loves experimenting with little twists on the classic recipe. For a citrusy kick, try adding a tablespoon of orange zest to the doughit brightens up all those warm spices beautifully. Feeling fancy? Dip half of each cooled cookie in melted dark chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint. Last Christmas, my niece begged me to mix in chopped pecans, and wowthat nutty crunch took them to another level! The best part? These cookies are like a blank canvas for your holiday creativity.
Serving and Storing Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies
Nothing beats a plate of these warm cookies with a cold glass of milkit’s pure holiday magic! For the grown-ups, I love pairing them with spiced chai teathe flavors just sing together. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container (I swear by my grandma’s old tins!) where they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. Pro tip: Layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking, and hide the container if you want any left for Santa!
Nutritional Information
Okay, let’s be realthese are holiday cookies, not health food! But if you’re curious (or tracking for dietary needs), here’s the scoop per cookie based on my standard recipe:
- Calories: About 120 (worth every single one!)
- Sugar: 6g (that’s the sweet holiday magic right there)
- Fat: 7g (mostly from that glorious butter)
- Carbs: 13g (perfect fuel for wrapping presents)
Rememberthese numbers are estimates that can change based on your exact ingredients. Used organic butter? Added extra spices? Swapped in coconut sugar? The values will shift slightly. But honestly, when you’re biting into one of these spiced wonders, the only number that matters is how many are left in the tin!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze the dough for these Christmas cookies? Absolutely! I freeze cookie dough balls all December long for last-minute baking. Just roll the dough into portions, freeze on a tray until solid (about 2 hours), then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for 3 monthsno thawing needed before baking, just add 1-2 extra minutes in the oven.
How long do these spiced cookies stay fresh? Stored properly in an airtight container, they’ll taste amazing for up to a week (if they last that long!). The spices actually deepen in flavor after a day or two. Pro tip: Tuck a slice of bread in the containerit keeps the cookies beautifully soft by absorbing excess moisture.
Can I use salted butter instead? You can, but I’d reduce the added salt to 1/4 tsp. Unsalted butter lets you control the exact salt levelcrucial for balancing those warm spices. My Aunt Margie always said salted butter makes cookies spread more, and after side-by-side tests, I think she was right!
Got more questions? Snap a photo of your cookie creations and tag meI love seeing your holiday baking adventures!
Print
45 Heavenly Festive Buttery Spiced Christmas Cookies You Must Try
- Total Time: 27 mins
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Festive buttery spiced Christmas cookies are a holiday favorite. These cookies are rich, buttery, and packed with warm spices.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Roll dough into balls and place on baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a fork.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden. Cool on wire racks.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week.
- For extra flavor, add orange zest to the dough.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Christmas cookies, festive cookies, spiced cookies