Are you ready to sprinkle some extra magic into your holiday baking this year? Imagine the delight on your children’s faces when they discover not only delicious cookies, but also an adorable Elf on the Shelf tucked amongst the treats! These Funfetti Elf on the Shelf Holiday Cookies are guaranteed to become a new family tradition, combining the whimsy of the holiday season with the joy of baking. Get ready for a baking adventure that’s as fun to make as it is to eat!
**Why These Cookies Are Extra Special**
* **Funfetti Fiesta:** The vibrant sprinkles add a pop of color and a touch of childlike wonder to every bite.
* **Elf on the Shelf Magic:** These cookies provide a playful and delicious way to incorporate your Elf on the Shelf into your holiday activities. Imagine placing your elf strategically amongst the cookies, perhaps “taste-testing” one with a sprinkle-covered face!
* **Easy and Adaptable:** This recipe is designed to be simple and easy to follow, even for novice bakers. Plus, it’s incredibly adaptable to your own preferences and dietary needs.
* **Perfect for Gifting:** These cookies are not only a treat for your family, but also make wonderful gifts for friends, neighbors, and teachers. Package them in festive boxes or tins for an extra special touch.
**Ingredients You’ll Need**
**For the Cookies:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup funfetti sprinkles, plus more for decorating
**For the Royal Icing (Optional):**
* 4 cups powdered sugar
* 3 tablespoons meringue powder
* 6-8 tablespoons warm water
* Food coloring (gel or liquid), optional
**Equipment You’ll Need**
* Stand mixer or hand mixer
* Large mixing bowls
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Baking sheets
* Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
* Cookie cutters (optional, but fun for holiday shapes!)
* Wire cooling rack
* Piping bags or squeeze bottles (for icing)
**Let’s Get Baking! Step-by-Step Instructions**
**Step 1: Cream Together the Butter and Sugars**
In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes. Make sure the butter is truly softened, but not melted, for the best results. This step is crucial for creating cookies with a soft and chewy texture.
**Step 2: Add the Eggs and Vanilla**
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated. The vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the cookies and adds a warm, inviting aroma.
**Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients**
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures that the baking soda and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which is important for the cookies to rise properly and have a balanced flavor.
**Step 4: Gradually Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients**
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to a chewier, less tender cookie. Mix until just combined, leaving a few streaks of flour if necessary.
**Step 5: Stir in the Funfetti Sprinkles**
Gently fold in the funfetti sprinkles until evenly distributed throughout the dough. The sprinkles add color, texture, and a touch of sweetness to the cookies. Don’t be afraid to use a generous amount of sprinkles for maximum funfetti effect!
**Step 6: Chill the Dough (Important!)**
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Chilling the dough is essential for preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven and helps to develop their flavor. If you’re short on time, you can chill the dough for a shorter period, but the cookies may spread more.
**Step 7: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Sheets**
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Parchment paper and silicone baking mats prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets and make cleanup easier.
**Step 8: Scoop and Shape the Cookies**
Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. You can use a cookie scoop for consistent size and shape, or simply use a spoon. If desired, you can roll the dough into balls and flatten them slightly with your hand or a fork. You can also use cookie cutters to create fun holiday shapes.
**Step 9: Bake the Cookies**
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The cookies should be soft in the center. Keep a close eye on the cookies as they bake, as baking times may vary depending on your oven. Avoid overbaking, as this can result in dry, crumbly cookies.
**Step 10: Cool the Cookies**
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This allows the cookies to firm up slightly and prevents them from breaking when you move them.
**Step 11: Decorate with Royal Icing (Optional)**
While the cookies are cooling, prepare the royal icing, if desired. In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and meringue powder. Gradually add the warm water, mixing until a smooth icing forms. Add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each bowl to create different colors. Transfer the icing to piping bags or squeeze bottles and decorate the cookies as desired. Get creative with your designs and have fun!
**Step 12: Sprinkle with More Funfetti (Because Why Not?)**
While the icing is still wet, sprinkle the cookies with more funfetti sprinkles for an extra festive touch. The sprinkles will adhere to the icing and add a pop of color and texture to your decorated cookies.
**Tips for Success**
* **Use Room Temperature Butter:** Softened butter is essential for creating cookies with a light and airy texture. Make sure the butter is truly softened, but not melted.
* **Don’t Overmix the Dough:** Overmixing can result in tough cookies. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
* **Chill the Dough:** Chilling the dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven and helps to develop their flavor.
* **Use Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** These prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets and make cleanup easier.
* **Don’t Overbake the Cookies:** Overbaking can result in dry, crumbly cookies. Bake until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center is still soft.
* **Let the Cookies Cool Completely:** This allows the cookies to firm up and prevents them from breaking when you move them.
* **Get Creative with Decorations:** Have fun decorating the cookies with royal icing, sprinkles, and other edible decorations.
**Royal Icing: A Detailed Guide**
Royal icing is a classic cookie decorating icing that dries hard and smooth. It’s perfect for creating intricate designs and adding a professional touch to your cookies.
**Ingredients:**
* 4 cups powdered sugar
* 3 tablespoons meringue powder
* 6-8 tablespoons warm water
* Food coloring (gel or liquid), optional
**Instructions:**
1. **Combine the Dry Ingredients:** In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and meringue powder. Meringue powder is essential for stabilizing the icing and helping it to dry hard.
2. **Add the Water:** Gradually add the warm water, mixing on low speed with a mixer (stand or hand mixer) until a smooth icing forms. Start with 6 tablespoons of water and add more, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. The consistency of the icing is crucial for decorating. You’ll want a thicker consistency for outlining and a thinner consistency for flooding.
3. **Adjust the Consistency:** To test the consistency, drop a spoonful of icing back into the bowl. If it disappears back into the icing in 10-15 seconds, it’s the right consistency for flooding. If it disappears too quickly, add a little more powdered sugar. If it takes too long to disappear, add a little more water.
4. **Color the Icing:** Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each bowl to create different colors. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors, as liquid food coloring can thin the icing too much. Add the food coloring a few drops at a time until you reach the desired shade.
5. **Prepare Piping Bags or Squeeze Bottles:** Transfer the icing to piping bags or squeeze bottles fitted with small round tips. Piping bags are ideal for creating intricate designs, while squeeze bottles are easier to use for flooding large areas.
**Tips for Perfect Royal Icing:**
* **Use Meringue Powder:** Meringue powder is essential for stabilizing the icing and helping it to dry hard. Do not substitute egg whites, as they can pose a salmonella risk.
* **Adjust the Consistency Carefully:** The consistency of the icing is crucial for decorating. Start with a small amount of water and add more gradually until you reach the desired consistency.
* **Use Gel Food Coloring:** Gel food coloring is more concentrated than liquid food coloring and will not thin the icing as much.
* **Keep the Icing Covered:** Royal icing dries out quickly, so keep it covered with a damp cloth or plastic wrap while you’re not using it.
* **Practice Your Piping Skills:** Practice piping different designs on parchment paper before decorating the cookies.
**Adapting the Recipe**
* **Gluten-Free:** Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of the regular all-purpose flour.
* **Dairy-Free:** Use a dairy-free butter substitute in place of the butter. Look for one that is specifically designed for baking.
* **Vegan:** Use a dairy-free butter substitute in place of the butter and a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) in place of the eggs. Also, ensure your sprinkles and any food colorings are vegan-friendly.
* **Lower Sugar:** Reduce the amount of granulated sugar and brown sugar by 1/4 cup each.
* **Different Flavors:** Add different extracts to the dough, such as almond extract, lemon extract, or peppermint extract.
**Elf on the Shelf Cookie Placement Ideas**
Now for the fun part! How are you going to incorporate your Elf on the Shelf into the cookie display?
* **The Taste Tester:** Position your elf next to a cookie with a bite taken out of it, and a sprinkle-covered face.
* **The Baker’s Helper:** Place your elf in the kitchen amidst the baking supplies, covered in flour or sprinkles.
* **The Cookie Thief:** Have your elf “stealing” a cookie from the cookie jar or a plate of cookies.
* **The Decoration Expert:** Set up your elf as if they are decorating the cookies with icing and sprinkles.
* **The Guard:** Have your elf standing guard over the cookies, making sure no one eats them before Santa arrives.
* **Mini Elf-Sized Cookie:** Create a tiny cookie just for your elf!
**Storage Instructions**
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw the cookies at room temperature before serving.
**Troubleshooting**
* **Cookies Spreading Too Much:** Make sure you chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. If the dough is still spreading too much, try chilling it for a longer period.
* **Cookies Too Dry:** Avoid overbaking the cookies. Bake until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center is still soft.
* **Icing Too Thin:** Add more powdered sugar to thicken the icing.
* **Icing Too Thick:** Add more water to thin the icing.
**A Holiday Baking Tradition in the Making**
These Funfetti Elf on the Shelf Holiday Cookies are more than just a delicious treat; they’re a way to create lasting memories with your family. The combination of colorful sprinkles, festive shapes, and the playful Elf on the Shelf will bring joy and laughter to your holiday season. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready for a baking adventure that’s sure to become a beloved tradition for years to come!
**Enjoy your magical baking adventure!**