If you have a sweet tooth and want a festive treat that brings warmth and joy to your holiday gatherings, look no further than this Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe. These cookies boast a buttery, soft texture studded with rich butterscotch chips that melt in your mouth, making them an instant favorite for every occasion. Whether you’re baking with family or gifting neighbors, these cookies encapsulate that perfect combination of chewy, sweet, and slightly caramelized bliss that truly captures the spirit of Christmas.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are simple staples you likely have within reach, each playing a crucial role in crafting the perfect balance of flavor and texture for your Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe. From the creamy butter to the sweet bursts of butterscotch chips, every component adds something delightful to the finished cookie.
- 1 cup softened butter: Provides richness and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- 1/2 cup sugar: Adds sweetness and aids in cookie browning.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar: Brings a subtle molasses flavor enhancing depth and chewiness.
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, inviting aroma.
- 2 eggs: Acts as a binder and gives structure to the dough.
- 2 1/4 cups flour: The foundation that holds everything together.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: Helps cookies rise just enough for a tender crumb.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- 2 cups butterscotch chips: The star ingredient, melting into sweet pockets of goodness throughout the cookies.
How to Make Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Getting your oven ready at 350°F (175°C) sets the stage for perfectly baked cookies. A properly preheated oven ensures that the cookies bake evenly, developing just the right golden edges while staying soft inside.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with sugar and brown sugar until creamy and smooth. This step is key to incorporating air into your dough, resulting in light and tender cookies with that satisfying chewiness.
Step 3: Add Vanilla and Eggs
Next, mix in vanilla extract and eggs thoroughly. The vanilla imparts a lovely fragrant note, while eggs bind all your dry ingredients together, ensuring the cookies hold their shape as they bake.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. This blending evenly distributes the leavening agent and salt, which is essential for balanced flavor and texture in the final cookies.
Step 5: Incorporate Dry Mixture into Wet Mix
Gradually add your dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, stirring just until combined. Overmixing here can make cookies tough, so handling the dough gently is the way to go.
Step 6: Fold in Butterscotch Chips
Gently fold the butterscotch chips into the dough. These chips are the delightful pockets of sweetness that make this Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe truly special.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them to allow for spreading. Bake for about eight minutes or until the edges turn a delicate golden hue. Cool them on the baking sheet briefly before moving them to a wire rack.
How to Serve Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe
Garnishes
While these cookies are wonderful on their own, adding a light dusting of powdered sugar or a few festive sprinkles can elevate them visually for holiday parties. A small drizzle of melted chocolate can also add an indulgent touch that pairs amazingly with butterscotch flavors.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a mug of hot cocoa, spiced eggnog, or even a cup of coffee. The warm, creamy drinks complement the sweetness and texture of the cookies perfectly, making for a cozy treat during the chilly festive season.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting or holiday entertaining, stack these cookies in clear jars layered with festive ribbons. You can also arrange them on a decorative platter surrounded by fresh rosemary sprigs or holly berries for a seasonal touch that invites your guests to indulge happily.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your leftovers fresh by storing cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay soft and flavorful for up to a week, making it easy to grab a tasty snack whenever the Christmas spirit strikes.
Freezing
If you want to prepare these cookies ahead of time, freeze the unbaked dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a zip-top bag. You can bake them directly from the freezer, just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time for perfect results.
Reheating
For cookies that taste freshly baked, warm them in a microwave for about 10 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for a few minutes. This brings back that soft, gooey texture that makes the Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe so delightful.
FAQs
Can I substitute the butterscotch chips for chocolate chips?
Absolutely! While butterscotch chips give these cookies their signature flavor, chocolate chips work perfectly for a more classic twist. The texture will remain the same, just with a different, yet delicious, flavor profile.
Do these cookies need to be chilled before baking?
There’s no need to chill this dough unless you want to make ahead or firm them for easier handling. The recipe as written bakes up beautifully without chilling, keeping the process quick and simple.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for about a week. Beyond that, freezing is your best bet to maintain flavor and texture.
What if I don’t have brown sugar?
You can substitute with white sugar, but brown sugar adds moisture and a subtle molasses flavor that enhances the chewiness and richness of the cookies, so it’s worth grabbing if you can.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, by swapping the regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend designed for baking, you can enjoy these cookies without gluten. Just be sure your butterscotch chips are also gluten-free to keep the recipe safe for dietary needs.
Final Thoughts
There’s just something heartwarming about baking a batch of Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe and sharing them with loved ones. Whether you’re new to holiday baking or searching for a crowd-pleaser, this recipe offers simplicity, deliciousness, and that special cozy charm we all crave during the season. So, preheat that oven and get ready to fill your home with the irresistible scent of buttery, sweet holiday magic!
Print
Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Easy Christmas Cookies with Butterscotch are a delightful holiday treat featuring a soft, buttery cookie base loaded with sweet butterscotch chips. Perfect for sharing during festive gatherings, these cookies combine classic flavors with a simple preparation method to bring a warm and comforting touch to your Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix-ins
- 2 cups butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready by the time your dough is prepared.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until creamy and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and eggs, then mix well to combine everything thoroughly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Butterscotch Chips: Gently fold the butterscotch chips into the dough to distribute them evenly without breaking them.
- Shape Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For softer cookies, slightly underbake and allow to cool on the pan.
- You can substitute butterscotch chips with chocolate chips or white chocolate chips for variety.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Make sure butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack to maintain crisp edges and chewy centers.
