When was the last time you updated your holiday cookie routine? This December, I propose a revitalization. My simple recipe is the starting point for a near-endless variety of cookies with spirited flavors and clever, contemporary prettifications. They’re a joy to gift or arrange on a dessert platter, and—best of all—they don’t require any special skills to make.
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A slice-and-bake style allows for loads of creativity, as the personalization possibilities are vast and easy to pull off: The dough can be studded with seasonal goodies such as dried or glacéed fruit and crystallized ginger; perfumed with extracts, citrus zest, and spices; trimmed with nuts, sanding sugar, or coconut; festooned with chocolate; or stenciled with freeze-dried fruit powder.
Furthermore, a tube of slice-and-bakes on standby in the fridge or freezer will be your holiday hero. When guests drop by or you’re extended a last-minute party invite, just slice your cookies and pop them in the oven. Need to give a gift? The confections’ flat silhouettes are tailor-made for stacking in boxes or tins.
Because a neutral backdrop is optimal for showcasing adornments, a chewy sugar cookie proved too sweet for the task. Its relatively low fat content also meant that the treats quickly staled, and I wanted something that would stay fresh long enough to survive a journey by mail.
I suspected that a basic butter cookie—butter creamed with sugar, plus flour (and vanilla and salt)—would tick all the boxes. Sure enough, the crumb was rich and subtly sweet, albeit a little too tender. A single egg yolk, rich in protein, firmed up the cookies, and extra sugar led to crispness that lasted for an impressive week and a half.
Next, I streamlined the method by switching to melted butter. In place of creaming, which incorporates tiny air bubbles that inflate in the oven, a smidge of baking powder leavened the crumb to a sturdy, slightly open texture.
With the basic dough settled, I played with cheery flavors. My favorites follow, along with easy techniques for making the most beautiful cookies for you and yours.
Watch Lan Lam demonstrate this versatile cookie recipe.
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