Short Description
Mitten Cookies are adorable, festive sugar cookies shaped like mittens, perfect for winter celebrations. Decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles, these cookies are a fun and delicious addition to any holiday gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft and buttery sugar cookies with a delightful crunch
- Perfect for decorating with kids and family
- Customizable with different icing colors and designs
- Great for holiday parties and cookie exchanges
- Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract (optional for extra flavor)
- Powdered sugar
- Milk or heavy cream
- Food coloring (for decorating)
- Sprinkles (optional for decoration)
Directions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare the Dough: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Roll and Cut: Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into mitten shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Bake: Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
- Prepare the Icing: Mix powdered sugar, milk, and food coloring to create icing for decorating.
- Decorate: Once the cookies have cooled, spread or pipe icing on top and add sprinkles as desired.
- Let Set & Serve: Allow the icing to set before serving or storing.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time (Optional): 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 30-45 minutes
Variations
- Chocolate Mitten Cookies: Add cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolatey twist.
- Citrus Flavor: Add orange or lemon zest for a refreshing twist.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free version.
- Spiced Cookies: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for extra warmth.
- Royal Icing: Use royal icing for a professional-looking decoration.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Refrigeration: Keeps fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freezing: Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months; thaw and decorate before serving.
FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! Store the dough in the fridge for up to 2 days before rolling and baking.
Do I need to chill the dough before baking?
Chilling is optional but helps prevent spreading and keeps the mitten shape defined.
Can I use margarine instead of butter?
Butter is recommended for the best flavor and texture.
How do I get a smooth icing finish?
Use a piping bag or dip the cookies in thinned icing for a smooth coat.
Can I make these without cookie cutters?
Yes! Simply shape the dough by hand or use a template to cut mittens with a knife.
Can I substitute almond extract?
Yes! You can omit it or replace it with more vanilla extract.
How do I prevent the cookies from becoming too hard?
Bake just until the edges are golden and allow them to cool properly.
What’s the best way to decorate these cookies?
Use a combination of colored icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter for festive designs.
Can I use pre-made frosting instead of homemade icing?
Yes, store-bought frosting works well if you prefer a shortcut.
Are these cookies good for gifting?
Absolutely! Package them in festive boxes or bags for a thoughtful holiday gift.
Conclusion
Mitten Cookies are a fun and festive holiday treat that’s perfect for decorating and sharing with loved ones. Whether you enjoy them plain or covered in colorful icing, these cookies will bring warmth and joy to your winter celebrations!
Mitten Cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus chilling)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Mitten Cookies are adorable, buttery sugar cookies shaped like mittens and decorated with icing. Perfect for Christmas cookie platters, holiday parties, or a fun winter baking activity with kids! Decorate them with royal icing, sprinkles, or sanding sugar for a festive touch.
Ingredients
- For the Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoons water (adjust for consistency)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red, blue, white, or other food coloring
- Sprinkles, sanding sugar, or edible glitter (for decoration)
Instructions
- Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing until combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Chill & Roll Out Dough:
- Shape the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut & Bake:
- Use a mitten-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies.
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool completely before decorating.
- Make the Royal Icing:
- In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing reaches a piping consistency.
- Divide into bowls, add food coloring, and mix.
- Transfer to piping bags and decorate the cookies with mitten designs.
- Decorate & Enjoy:
- Pipe icing onto cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles or sanding sugar.
- Let icing set for 2-3 hours before serving or storing.
Notes
- No Meringue Powder? Use 1 egg white in place of it.
- Make-Ahead: Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Decorating Ideas: Use white icing for “knit” patterns or add a cuff with sprinkles!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus chilling)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
- Keywords: Christmas Cookies, Mitten Sugar Cookies, Holiday Baking, Winter Desserts, Decorated Sugar Cookies
- Nutrition (Per Cookie)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Nutrition
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
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