Low-Sugar Christmas Butter Cookies

Steps

1. 1

   Step 1

   

   Gather all the ingredients. Cut the butter into pieces and let it soften at room temperature.

   ✅ Done when: The butter is pliable and yields easily when pressed.

2. 2

   Step 2

   

   If your kitchen is cold and the butter softens slowly at room temperature, soften it over a bowl of warm water at about 40 degrees Celsius.

   ✅ Done when: The butter is soft enough to beat smoothly.

3. 3

   Step 3

   

   Beat the butter with an electric mixer on low speed.

   ✅ Done when: The butter is light, smooth and fluffy.

4. 4

   Step 4

   

   Sift the powdered sugar (the recipe uses 50 g, which makes a cookie that is not very sweet; add a bit more if you like it sweeter).

   ✅ Done when: The powdered sugar is sifted and free of lumps.

5. 5

   Step 5

   

   Add the powdered sugar to the beaten butter.

   ✅ Done when: All the sugar is in the bowl with the butter.

6. 6

   Step 6

   

   Mix the powdered sugar and butter together until well combined.

   ✅ Done when: The mixture is smooth, pale and evenly blended.

7. 7

   Step 7

   

   Beat 1 egg, then add it to the butter in two additions, mixing with the electric mixer after each.

   ✅ Done when: The egg is fully incorporated with no streaks remaining.

8. 8

   Step 8

   

   This is the finished state of the egg-and-butter mixture.

   ✅ Done when: The mixture is smooth, uniform and glossy.

9. 9

   Step 9

   

   Sift the cake flour.

   ✅ Done when: The flour is sifted and light with no lumps.

10. 10

    Step 10

    

    Fold the flour in with a silicone spatula (if the dough feels too dry and hard to mix, set the bowl over a basin of warm water and stir over it).

    ✅ Done when: No dry flour remains visible in the bowl.

11. 11

    Step 11

    

    Knead the dough into a smooth ball.

    ✅ Done when: The dough is smooth and even with no cracks or dry patches.

12. 12

    Step 12180 min

    

    Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

    ✅ Done when: The dough has chilled for at least 3 hours and is firm.

13. 13

    Step 13

    

    Roll the dough out to a thickness matching your cookie molds.

    ✅ Done when: The dough forms an even sheet the same thickness as the mold.

14. 14

    Step 14

    

    Press out the outlines with the molds first.

    ✅ Done when: Clean cookie outlines are cut from the dough.

15. 15

    Step 15

    

    Then press in the pattern details.

    ✅ Done when: Each cutout shows a clear, defined pattern.

16. 16

    Step 16

    

    Unmold the cookies and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

    ✅ Done when: All the shaped cookies sit intact on the lined sheet.

17. 17

    Step 17

    

    Press out the remaining Christmas designs from the leftover dough.

    ✅ Done when: No shaped dough is left; all designs are cut and on the sheet.

18. 18

    Step 1825 min

    Medium heat
    

    Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius and bake for 25 minutes (adjust the baking time depending on your oven).

    ✅ Done when: The cookies are baked through and lightly set, about 25 minutes at 150 degrees Celsius.

19. 19

    Step 19

    

    The warm, milky-smelling cookies are done; they taste only lightly sweet.

    ✅ Done when: The cookies are warm, fragrant with butter, and lightly sweet.