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A collection of diverse Christmas baking recipes laid out invitingly.

Perfect Holiday Sugar Cookies with Citrus Zest

These Perfect Holiday Sugar Cookies are a delightful treat featuring a hint of citrus zest, ideal for festive occasions. They are designed to be rolled and cut into fun shapes, perfect for decorating with your favorite toppings.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature (around 65°F / 18°C)
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 tablespoon orange or lemon zest
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder ensure it's fresh
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
For Decoration (Optional)
  • colorful sprinkles
  • edible glitter
  • royal icing

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • electric mixer
  • plastic wrap
  • oven thermometer
  • baking sheets
  • parchment paper or silicone mats
  • cookie cutters
  • wire rack

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Before you begin, read the entire recipe to understand the process and gather all necessary ingredients and tools.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the room temperature butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, which takes about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Beat in the two room temperature eggs one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next; then stir in the vanilla extract and citrus zest.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, fresh baking powder, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined, stopping as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain to avoid overmixing.
  6. Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten each into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours until firm.
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) using an oven thermometer for accuracy, and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness and use holiday cookie cutters to cut out shapes; re-roll and cut scraps as needed.
  3. Transfer cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart, and bake for 8-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers are just set; rotate sheets halfway through for even baking.
  4. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely; once cooled, decorate as desired with sprinkles, edible glitter, or royal icing.
Storage
  1. Store unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days; for frosted cookies, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes

For best results, ensure all cold ingredients are at room temperature as specified. Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies tender. Chilling the dough thoroughly is crucial for preventing spread and maintaining shape during baking. You can refrigerate the dough overnight or freeze it for later use. Individual cookie size and thickness will affect baking time, so watch them closely. If decorating with royal icing, ensure cookies are completely cool before applying.