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3-Ingredient Holiday Cookies Everyone Will Love

3-Ingredient Holiday Cookies

These easy holiday cookies combine butter, sugar, and flour for a tender, lightly crisp treat. Shape them as simple drop cookies or chill, roll, and cut the dough into festive shapes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup (2 sticks/226 g) Unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) Granulated sugar
  • 2 to 2 1/4 cups (250-281 g) All-purpose flour
Optional Decoration
  • as needed Granulated sugar for sprinkling

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature but not melted.
  2. Beat the softened butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually mix in the flour just until a soft dough forms, taking care not to overmix.
  3. For drop cookies, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten each ball lightly with a glass or fork, then sprinkle with extra sugar if desired.
  4. For cut-out cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour, roll it about 1/4 inch thick, and cut it into holiday shapes. Transfer the shapes carefully to parchment-lined baking sheets.
  5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden while the centers remain pale. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for several minutes, then transfer them to a rack.

Notes

Use softened rather than melted butter to prevent a greasy, overly spread dough. Measure flour by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it, or weigh it. If the dough feels sticky, chill it briefly instead of adding a large amount of extra flour.