Looking for an original idea for homemade Christmas gifts? Two-tone shortbread cookies are the perfect solution! Crumbly, eye-catching, and easy to make, these treats are perfect for surprising friends and family with a sweet and personalized thought. With their mix of vanilla and cocoa, they win over at first bite and are beautiful to look at, perfect for packaging in elegant boxes or transparent bags.
Making homemade cookies for Christmas is an activity that smells of celebration, brings warmth, and fills the kitchen with all the magic of this period. These two-tone cookies are also ideal for serving during festive snacks or as an accompaniment to coffee or hot chocolate. Discover how to make them with my easy and quick recipe, with tricks and tips for impeccable shortbread.
Armed with cookie cutters, unleash your creativity and create unique and irresistible cookies.
Also, take a look at these cookies:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 45Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 10 1/2 oz butter
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 packet vanillin (or vanilla extract)
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 10 1/2 oz butter
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 egg
- 1 packet vanillin (or vanilla extract)
- to taste colored sprinkles (optional)
Tools
- Stand Mixer
- Cookie Cutters Christmas Cookie Cutters
- Cookie Cutters Reindeer and Santa Claus Cookie Cutters
Steps
Recipe for Perfect Shortbread Cookies: A Guaranteed Success!
To achieve a perfect shortbread, it is essential to combine all the ingredients carefully. Use cold butter from the refrigerator and room temperature eggs, a little trick that will make a difference in the texture of your shortbread!
Start by combining flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanillin.Work quickly to form a smooth and homogeneous dough. Avoid warming it too much with your hands, so as not to compromise the crumbly texture of your cookies.
Once the ingredients are mixed, I recommend wrapping the dough in cling film and letting it rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This step is essential to achieve a shortbread that is easier to roll out and ensures the right consistency for your cookies.
After resting, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. Use a rolling pin to roll it out evenly. At this point, use cookie cutters to shape as you prefer. You can choose between classic or more creative shapes, depending on your imagination.
Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden. Every oven is different, so check the baking to get the perfect result.Once ready, let the cookies cool on a rack before enjoying them. If you want to gift them, package them elegantly and personally!
In the photo below, you see a Christmas gift idea with a mix of homemade cookies: two-tone cookies decorated with royal icing or filled with jam and Gingerbread men.
👉 Note: The Gingerbread men in the photo are made with a different dough and are part of another recipe you can find here!
Advice, Storage
Advice
To achieve perfect two-tone cookies, work the shortbread quickly so as not to overheat it. Use a floured work surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking during rolling.
You can customize the cookies by adding an aromatic note, such as a pinch of cinnamon, orange zest, or a few drops of vanilla essence. And if you want to make them even more delicious, you can decorate them with colored sugars or dip half in melted chocolate once cooled!
Storage
Two-tone shortbread cookies can be stored in a tin box or airtight container for about 7-10 days, retaining all their crispness. If you want to prepare them in advance, you can freeze the dough wrapped in food wrap: just let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using it.
