Mom's Christmas Cookies

These are traditional cookies Mom used to make for Christmas. They are a bit of work, but they were so popular that Mom used to hide them, which just meant that we would find them and eat them before she realized that we were into them.

Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
8 hrs 10 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs 50 mins
Servings:
36
Yield:
36 cookies
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 36 servings

Cookie Dough:

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • ½ cup tightly packed brown sugar

  • 3 tablespoons white sugar, divided, or as needed

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

Frosting:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar

  • 3 tablespoons milk, or more as needed

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons chocolate sprinkles, or as needed

Directions

  1. Mix butter, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon white sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg yolk and vanilla and mix until well combined. Blend in flour gradually. Cover and chill in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place remaining 2 tablespoon white sugar on a plate.

  3. Remove dough from the refrigerator. Shape into small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Dip a glass into the sugar and press on each ball to flatten.

  4. Bake in the preheated oven, switching racks halfway through, until edges are golden, 7 to 9 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool, 8 to 10 minutes more.

  5. While the cookies are cooling, mix butter and powdered sugar until blended. Mix in milk and vanilla.

  6. Frost cooled cookies with frosting. Press sprinkles into the frosting while still soft.

Cook's Note:

For a brown butter frosting, melt the butter until lightly browned, then continue with Step 5.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

137 Calories
7g Fat
19g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 36
Calories 137
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 23mg 8%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 1g 2%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 18mg 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.