Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Christmas Crinkle Cookies are a delightful addition to any holiday celebration. These cheerful treats bring the festive spirit to life with their vibrant red hue and signature crackled finish, making them a favorite for gatherings and gifting. Their soft, chewy texture and powdered sugar coating create a harmonious balance of sweetness and texture, ensuring they’re a hit with everyone who tries them.
Ingredients Overview
The simplicity of using a boxed white cake mix as the base for these cookies is a game-changer, offering both convenience and consistency. It saves time without compromising on flavor, making it an ideal choice for busy holiday schedules.
Red food coloring gel plays a vital role in the recipe, transforming an ordinary cookie dough into a visually striking festive treat. The vibrant color evokes the warmth and joy of the season, making these cookies a must-have for holiday parties.
Chilling the dough is a crucial step that should not be overlooked. Refrigeration firms up the dough, making it easier to handle and shape. It also ensures the cookies puff up beautifully in the oven, creating the signature crinkle effect that makes these cookies so appealing.
Instructions: Step-by-Step Guide
Mixing the dough begins with combining the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. The ingredients come together quickly, forming a smooth and pliable dough that sets the foundation for perfect cookies.
Dividing the dough evenly into two portions ensures consistency in size and texture. Adding a few drops of red food coloring to one portion brings the festive touch, while thoroughly mixing ensures the color is uniform.
Refrigeration is key to the success of this recipe. By allowing the dough to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, the dough firms up, making it easier to shape. This step also helps achieve the desired texture—light and fluffy cookies with a satisfying chew.
When shaping and coating the dough, rolling each portion into a ball ensures uniform baking. Coating the balls generously in powdered sugar creates the iconic crackled appearance as the cookies bake and spread.
Baking the cookies at 375°F for 9-11 minutes is the final step. The edges should be set while the centers remain slightly soft. Allowing them to cool briefly on the baking sheet ensures they hold their shape before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
To prevent sticky dough, lightly dust your hands with flour or add a tablespoon of flour to the mixture if needed.
Use a cookie scoop for uniform dough balls, ensuring even baking.
Experiment with the intensity of the red food coloring to match your desired holiday theme.
Space cookies at least two inches apart on the baking sheet to allow for spreading.
What to Serve With This Recipe
Christmas Crinkle Cookies pair wonderfully with warm beverages. A cup of rich hot chocolate or a spiced mulled cider complements the sweetness of the cookies, creating a cozy treat for winter evenings.
For a festive dessert platter, these cookies shine alongside other holiday favorites like gingerbread men and peppermint bark. Their vibrant color adds a visual pop, making them the star of the table.
Packaged in decorative tins or wrapped in clear cellophane with a festive ribbon, these cookies make thoughtful and delicious edible gifts, perfect for spreading holiday cheer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other food coloring colors for different themes?
Absolutely! Green or blue food coloring works well for alternative festive looks.
What’s the best way to store these cookies to maintain their texture?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week to keep them fresh.
How can I make these cookies ahead of time for holiday parties?
Prepare the dough in advance and freeze it. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking.
Can I use a homemade cake mix instead of a boxed one?
Yes, a homemade mix can be substituted, but ensure the proportions are equivalent to maintain the dough’s consistency.
Presentation and Storage
Arrange the cookies in decorative tins or on a festive platter for a picture-perfect presentation. To keep them fresh, store the cookies in an airtight container, layering parchment paper between them to prevent sticking.
For longer storage, the cookies can be frozen. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, and when ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature for a few hours. They’ll retain their soft texture and vibrant appearance.
Variations and Customization
For a unique twist, add green food coloring to half the dough for dual-tone Christmas cookies. Sprinkles or edible glitter can also be added for extra holiday sparkle.
Experiment with different extracts like almond or peppermint to create new flavor profiles while keeping the same delightful texture.
Christmas Crinkle Cookies are an easy and festive way to bring joy to your holiday table. Whether baking for your family, a party, or as gifts, these cookies promise to spread cheer and create lasting memories. Let their vibrant color and irresistible flavor make them a staple in your holiday traditions.
Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red food coloring gel
1/3 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F and preparing a baking sheet with either a silicone mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until the mixture forms a smooth, pliable dough.
Divide the dough evenly into two separate bowls. Add a few drops of red food coloring gel to one portion, mixing it in thoroughly until the color is consistent throughout. Use a spoon or your hands to ensure the coloring is evenly distributed.
Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 30 minutes. This step helps firm up the dough, making it easier to handle and resulting in fluffier cookies.
Once the dough is chilled, use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to measure out portions of the dough. Roll each portion into a ball using your hands. If the dough feels overly sticky, incorporate about a tablespoon of flour into the mixture and knead gently.
Roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar until fully coated, then arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies are slightly puffed. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
These Christmas Crinkle Cookies are now ready to enjoy or share during the festive season!
Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red food coloring gel
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F and preparing a baking sheet with either a silicone mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until the mixture forms a smooth, pliable dough.
- Divide the dough evenly into two separate bowls. Add a few drops of red food coloring gel to one portion, mixing it in thoroughly until the color is consistent throughout. Use a spoon or your hands to ensure the coloring is evenly distributed.
- Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 30 minutes. This step helps firm up the dough, making it easier to handle and resulting in fluffier cookies.
- Once the dough is chilled, use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to measure out portions of the dough. Roll each portion into a ball using your hands. If the dough feels overly sticky, incorporate about a tablespoon of flour into the mixture and knead gently.
- Roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar until fully coated, then arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies are slightly puffed. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- These Christmas Crinkle Cookies are now ready to enjoy or share during the festive season!