Description
These Retro Christmas Gumdrop Cookies are a festive treat featuring a soft and buttery dough studded with colorful, chewy fruit-flavored gumdrops. Perfect for holiday cookie exchanges or festive celebrations, these cookies bring a nostalgic and flavorful twist to classic sugar cookies with their bright colors and fruity sweetness.
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 gumdrops into small pieces and toss them with a little flour to prevent them from sticking together or sinking to the bottom of the dough during baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms without over-mixing.
- Fold in Gumdrops: Gently fold the floured gumdrop pieces into the dough to distribute them evenly throughout.
- Chill Dough (Optional): For better cookie shape retention, 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) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Scoop Dough: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are just set.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape and can improve texture.
- Flouring the chopped gumdrops prevents them from sticking or sinking to the bottoms of the cookies.
- You can use different flavors or colors of gumdrops to customize the look and taste.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a more festive touch, consider rolling the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before baking.
