Description
These Retro Christmas Gumdrop Cookies are a festive and colorful treat perfect for the holiday season. Soft, buttery cookies studded with fruity gumdrops offer a delightful chew and a sweet burst of flavor in every bite. This recipe is simple to prepare and yields a classic holiday cookie everyone will enjoy.
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 Gumdrops: Chop the fruit-flavored gumdrops into small pieces and toss them with a small amount of flour to prevent them from sticking together or sinking during baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, usually about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure they are evenly combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing, until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in Gumdrops: Gently fold the floured gumdrop pieces into the dough making sure they are evenly distributed without overmixing.
- Chill Dough (Optional): For better cookie shape and texture, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Scoop Dough: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, form balls of dough and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are just set.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps maintain the cookie shape and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Flouring the gumdrops prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the cookies during baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week for best freshness.
- Feel free to use your favorite gumdrop flavors or add colored sugar sprinkles on top before baking for extra festivity.
