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Square image of stacked Christmas slice and bake cookies with red sprinkles on a dessert stand tied with a red and white ribbon.
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Easy Christmas Icebox Cookies

These Christmas Icebox Cookies are slice and bake cookies that are incredibly easy to make, festive with colors of the season, and delicious with a vanilla buttery crumb. With sparkling edges, these holiday treats should definitely be on your Christmas cookie list!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Chilling Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 22 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 128kcal
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup holiday nonpareils
  • ½ cup sparkling sugar plus more for sprinkling
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as necessary, and then beat in the vanilla extract.
  • Gradually add the flour and salt to the bowl and mix on low speed until combined. Fold in nonpareils. The dough will be soft.
  • Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a 7-inch log about 2 inches thick. Wrap individually in plastic wrap; holding the ends of the plastic wrap, roll the log over a work surface to create a rounded shape. Refrigerate until firm; about 1-2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Working with one dough log at a time, unwrap the log and cut it into ¼-inch slices. Dip the edges in sparkling sugar, if desired, and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Alternatively, you can brush the outside of the log with a beaten egg and then roll it in sparkling sugar before slicing.
  • Bake until lightly golden around the edges, about 12- 15 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Notes

  1. Chilling the dough: The dough will be soft after mixing — chilling is essential for clean slicing.
  2. Sprinkles: Sparkling sugar gives the cookies a beautiful holiday edge; nonpareils add festive pops of color.
  3. Keeping the Round Shape: Rotate the dough log every few slices to help keep its round shape.
  4. Storing: Baked cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 week. Dough logs can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 48 hours before baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.5mg