There’s something timeless about Christmas shortbread cookies. Simple ingredients, buttery flavour and that melt-in-your-mouth crumb make them a festive favourite year after year.
This version keeps all the classic shortbread goodness but adds a fun, modern twist with a glossy icing glaze and cheerful Christmas light decorations that instantly lift them from simple to show-stopping. They’re quick to make, easy to decorate and perfect for entertaining, gifting or adding something special to your Christmas table.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups Plain Flour
- 1 ¼cup Cornflour
- ½ cup Icing Sugar
- 225g Butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
- Icing Glaze
- 1 cup Icing Sugar
- 2½ tablespoons Milk
To Decorate
- Mini M&Ms;
- 1 Egg White
- 1 ½ cups Icing Sugar
- Black Food Colouring
- Piping bag
Instructions
1. Line two baking trays with baking paper and set aside.
2. Place the butter in a mixing bowl and, using electric beaters, beat until smooth. Add the icing sugar and vanilla, beating together for a minute until fluffy and combined.
3. Add both flours and beat until combined.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, knead and form a ball. Flatten into a disc.
5. Dust the bench and a rolling pin lightly and roll the disc into an even slab around 1cm in thickness. Don’t roll it too thin, or it’s likely to break when you move.
6. Cut your shapes with a lightly floured cookie cutter.
7. Place the dough shapes on the trays and put in the fridge for at least an hour.
8. In a preheated 190°C oven, bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
9. To make the glaze, mix the icing sugar and milk to a pouring consistency. Transfer the glaze to a shallow bowl and dip the surface of the biscuit into the mix.
10. Lift gently and let the excess drip off before quickly turning it over and leaving it to set (around 30 minutes).
11. Make the royal icing by mixing the egg white and the icing sugar together.
12. Add a squirt of black food colouring and mix in. Add a few drops of water if required to thin it out to a piping consistency. Transfer to a piping bag.
13. Pipe a string of black icing onto the biscuit. Press the Mini M&Ms into the string to make lights – and you’re done!
These Christmas shortbread cookies prove you don’t need complicated recipes or hours in the kitchen to create something festive and impressive. Whether you’re baking for guests, whipping up a last-minute treat or letting the kids help with decorating, these cookies deliver big Christmas energy with minimal effort. Serve them proudly, gift them generously or enjoy them with a cup of tea while soaking up the festive chaos.
Want more fun ideas for the kids in the kitchen? Check out our collection of recipes, take a browse in our Christmas section for more fun Christmas recipes and ideas and be sure to follow us on Facebook!
