Description
Delight in these rich and festive Chocolate Christmas Cookies, featuring a decadent blend of semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder with a tender, buttery texture. Decorated with colorful Christmas sprinkles, these cookies are perfect for holiday celebrations and gift-giving.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted to remove lumps)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Decoration
- Christmas sprinkles (to decorate)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 325°F (170°C) and prepare two cookie sheets by lining them with baking paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Melt Chocolate: Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and melt them on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until just melted and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sifted cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes creamy and fluffy.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the melted chocolate to the creamed butter and sugars, mixing thoroughly. Then, add the lightly beaten egg and vanilla extract, stirring well to incorporate all wet ingredients.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just blended to form a cookie dough.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the dough for 20 to 30 minutes to firm it up, which will help maintain shape during baking.
- Prepare for Sprinkles: Place about ½ cup of Christmas sprinkles on a plate, ready for decorating the cookie dough balls.
- Shape and Decorate: Using your palms, roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sprinkles, coating them evenly. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes until the cookies are set but still soft in the center.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Be sure to sift the cocoa powder to avoid lumps in the dough for a smooth texture.
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Do not overbake; the cookies should be soft in the middle when removed from the oven for the best texture.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: chocolate Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, chocolate chip cookies, festive cookies, cocoa cookies, Christmas sprinkles
