Description
These Retro Christmas Gumdrop Cookies are a festive and colorful treat, perfect for holiday celebrations. Soft and chewy sugar cookies studded with vibrant fruit-flavored gumdrops bring a nostalgic charm to your cookie platter. They’re lightly sweet, buttery, and easy to bake, ideal for sharing with family and friends during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Gumdrops
- 1 cup fruit-flavored gumdrops, chopped and floured
Instructions
- Prepare the Gumdrops: Chop the gumdrops into small pieces and toss them with a bit of flour to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2-3 minutes with a mixer.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Fold in Gumdrops: Gently fold in the floured gumdrop pieces evenly throughout the dough to ensure they don’t clump.
- Chill the Dough (Optional): For better cookie shape and less spreading, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Scoop Dough: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are just set but still soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they firm up perfectly.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is optional but recommended to prevent excessive spreading and maintain cookie shape.
- Flouring the gumdrops helps keep them from melting into the dough and clumping together.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- You can substitute gumdrops with chopped dried fruit or candy pieces if desired.
