Candied Christmas Cookie Delights: Recipes and Decorating Guide
Christmas cookies are a timeless tradition, evoking feelings of warmth, nostalgia, and festive cheer. While classic sugar cookies decorated with royal icing hold a special place, candied Christmas cookies offer a unique and vibrant twist. The glistening, jewel-toned candy adds a dazzling visual appeal, transforming simple cookies into edible works of art. This guide will explore a variety of candied Christmas cookie recipes, providing detailed instructions, helpful tips, and creative decorating ideas to help you create stunning and delicious treats for the holidays.
Why Candied Cookies?
Candied cookies offer several advantages over traditional iced cookies:
* **Visual Appeal:** The translucent candy creates a stained-glass effect, catching the light and adding a touch of magic to your cookie platter.
* **Unique Texture:** The hard, brittle candy provides a delightful contrast to the soft, chewy cookie base.
* **Flavor Variety:** You can use different hard candies to create a wide range of flavors, complementing or contrasting with the cookie dough.
* **Simplicity:** Candying cookies can be simpler than intricate royal icing designs, making them a great option for beginner bakers or those who prefer a less time-consuming decorating process.
Essential Ingredients and Equipment
Before diving into the recipes, let’s gather the necessary ingredients and equipment:
**For the Cookie Dough:**
* **All-Purpose Flour:** The foundation of most cookie recipes. Use unbleached all-purpose flour for the best texture.
* **Granulated Sugar:** Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb.
* **Unsalted Butter:** Provides richness and flavor. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
* **Eggs:** Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the cookie’s structure.
* **Vanilla Extract:** Enhances the flavor of the cookies.
* **Baking Powder:** A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise.
* **Salt:** Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
**For the Candied Filling:**
* **Hard Candies:** Choose a variety of colors and flavors. Jolly Ranchers, Lifesavers, and other hard candies work well. Avoid sugar-free candies as they may not melt properly.
* **Powdered Sugar (Optional):** For dusting the cookies after baking to prevent the candy from sticking to surfaces.
**Equipment:**
* **Mixing Bowls:** For combining ingredients.
* **Electric Mixer:** Makes creaming butter and sugar easier.
* **Measuring Cups and Spoons:** For accurate measurements.
* **Rolling Pin:** For rolling out the cookie dough.
* **Cookie Cutters:** Choose your favorite Christmas shapes.
* **Baking Sheets:** Line with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
* **Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** Prevents the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets.
* **Food Processor or Heavy-Duty Ziploc Bag and Rolling Pin:** For crushing the hard candies.
* **Oven:** Preheat to the specified temperature for each recipe.
* **Wire Cooling Rack:** For cooling the baked cookies.
Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe
This recipe provides a versatile base for your candied Christmas cookies.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
**Instructions:**
1. **Cream Butter and Sugar:** In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer.
2. **Add Eggs and Vanilla:** Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. **Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients:** Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. **Chill the Dough:** Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 24 hours). Chilling the dough prevents it from spreading too much during baking.
Preparing the Candies
Before you start cutting out your cookies, prepare the hard candies:
1. **Sort Candies by Color:** Separate the candies by color to create different colored fillings. This will allow for more creative decorating.
2. **Crush the Candies:** Place the candies of each color in a separate food processor or in a heavy-duty Ziploc bag. If using a Ziploc bag, seal the bag tightly and crush the candies with a rolling pin until they are finely crushed. Be careful not to create too much powder.
Creating Candied Christmas Cookies: The Cut-Out Method
This is the most common method for making candied cookies, allowing for intricate shapes and designs.
**Instructions:**
1. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. **Roll Out the Dough:** On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Keep the other disc chilled while you work.
3. **Cut Out Cookie Shapes:** Use your favorite Christmas cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough. Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
4. **Create a Cavity for the Candy:** Use a smaller cookie cutter (or a knife) to cut out a shape within the larger cookie shape. This creates a cavity that will be filled with the crushed candy. Make sure to leave a border of cookie dough around the edge of the cavity to prevent the candy from running off the edges.
5. **Fill the Cavities with Crushed Candy:** Carefully fill the cavities with the crushed hard candy, making sure the candy is evenly distributed. Don’t overfill the cavities, as the candy will melt and spread during baking.
6. **Bake the Cookies:** Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden brown and the candy is melted and bubbly. Keep a close eye on the cookies, as the candy can burn easily.
7. **Cool the Cookies:** Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire cooling rack. The candy will harden as it cools.
8. **Dust with Powdered Sugar (Optional):** Once the cookies are completely cool, dust them with powdered sugar to prevent the candy from sticking to surfaces.
Variations and Creative Ideas
* **Stained Glass Ornaments:** Use a round cookie cutter and a smaller star-shaped cutter to create a star-shaped cavity. Use different colored candies to create a stained-glass effect.
* **Wreath Cookies:** Use a wreath-shaped cookie cutter and fill the center with green candies to create a festive wreath.
* **Snowflake Cookies:** Use a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter and fill the intricate details with different colored candies to create a stunning snowflake design.
* **Candy Cane Cookies:** Use a candy cane-shaped cookie cutter and fill the stripes with red and white candies.
* **Gingerbread Men with Candy Buttons:** Cut out gingerbread men shapes and use different colored candies to create buttons on their coats.
* **Use Multiple Candy Colors in One Cookie:** Create interesting patterns and designs by using multiple candy colors in the same cookie.
* **Add Sprinkles or Edible Glitter:** Sprinkle the cookies with edible glitter or festive sprinkles while the candy is still melted for extra sparkle.
* **Flavor the Cookie Dough:** Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the cookie dough for a warmer, more festive flavor.
* **Use Different Types of Cookies:** Experiment with different types of cookies, such as gingerbread cookies or shortbread cookies, as a base for your candied creations.
Tips for Success
* **Chill the Dough:** Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking. Make sure to chill the dough for at least 1 hour, or even longer if possible.
* **Don’t Overmix the Dough:** Overmixing the dough can result in tough cookies. Mix the ingredients until just combined.
* **Use Finely Crushed Candy:** Finely crushed candy will melt more evenly and create a smoother finish.
* **Don’t Overfill the Cavities:** Overfilling the cavities with candy can cause the candy to run off the edges of the cookies during baking.
* **Bake on Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** This will prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets and make it easier to remove them after baking.
* **Watch the Cookies Carefully:** The candy can burn easily, so keep a close eye on the cookies while they are baking.
* **Let the Cookies Cool Completely:** The candy needs to cool completely to harden properly. Don’t try to move the cookies until they are completely cool.
* **Store Properly:** Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid storing them in the refrigerator, as the candy can become sticky.
Gluten-Free Option
For those with gluten sensitivities, you can easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free:
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (containing xanthan gum)
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
**Instructions:**
Follow the same instructions as the basic sugar cookie recipe, but substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Xanthan gum helps to bind the ingredients together and provides structure to the cookies.
Vegan Option
It’s also possible to make vegan candied Christmas cookies with a few substitutions:
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) vegan butter, softened
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 tablespoons applesauce (egg replacement)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
**Instructions:**
1. **Cream Vegan Butter and Sugar:** In a large bowl, cream together the softened vegan butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
2. **Add Applesauce and Vanilla:** Beat in the applesauce and vanilla extract.
3. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. **Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients:** Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. **Chill the Dough:** Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 24 hours).
6. Follow same steps as the standard cut-out method above.
Troubleshooting
* **Cookies Spreading Too Much:** Make sure you chill the dough properly. Also, avoid overmixing the dough and ensure your oven temperature is accurate.
* **Candy Burning:** Reduce the oven temperature slightly or bake the cookies for a shorter amount of time. Keep a close eye on the cookies while they are baking.
* **Candy Not Melting Evenly:** Make sure the candy is finely crushed and evenly distributed in the cavities. Also, ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature.
* **Candy Sticking to Surfaces:** Dust the cookies with powdered sugar after they have cooled completely.
Conclusion
Candied Christmas cookies are a delightful and visually stunning addition to any holiday celebration. With a little creativity and these helpful tips, you can create beautiful and delicious treats that will impress your friends and family. Experiment with different cookie shapes, candy colors, and flavor combinations to create your own unique candied Christmas cookie masterpieces. Happy baking!