These Amish Christmas Cookies are an easy way to get in the Christmas spirit. This old fashioned Amish recipe is delicious and uses just a few ingredients!
I am a huge fan of Amish recipes. They are always simple, family friendly recipes that never let me down. These Amish Christmas Cookies are a great way to get into the holiday spirit. They make the perfect gift for friends, family, and neighbors.
If you love old fashioned Amish recipes then be sure to also check out these Amish Chocolate Chip Cookies, Amish Oatmeal Cookies, and this Amish Coffee Cake (perfect for Christmas morning).
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💭 Why you’ll love this recipe
These Amish Christmas cookies are easy to make with just a few ingredients.
🧈 Ingredients needed
For the cookies, you will need:
- Butter: I used unsalted butter for the cookie dough. Salted butter has more water content than unsalted. I usually recommend using unsalted butter for cookies.
- Shortening: You will need plain shortening, not butter flavored for this recipe.
- Sugar
- Eggs
- All purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar: Cream of tartar isn’t just for snickerdoodles. The cream of tartar helps the cookies stay soft and helps them rise.
- Vanilla extract: If possible, I recommend using pure vanilla extract in baking.
For the icing, you will need:
- Butter: I used unsalted butter but you can use salted if you like a little salt in your frosting.
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar: Also called confectioner’s sugar.
- Heavy cream: Or you can also use whole milk.
🎄Variations
You can use this cookie dough to make roll out cookies with cookie cutters. I’m not the best at decorating cookies so I made regular dough balls.
To use this dough with cookie cutters, after chilling roll the dough out on a heavily floured surface until it is about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters and bake as usual. Use extra flour to help roll the dough, if needed.
⏲️ Recipe instructions (step by step guide)
Cream together the shortening, butter, vanilla, and sugar (image 1). Next, mix in the other cookie ingredients (image 2). Mix until well incorporated (do not over mix). Chill for at least one hour.
Form cookie dough balls and place on a well greased or parchment lined baking sheet (image 3). Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden. Let rest for five minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies are cooling, mix together the ingredients for the frosting. Beat until fluffy and well combined (image 4). Divide the frosting into different bowls for your desired colors. Stir in food coloring (image 5). I recommend starting with less then adding more until you get the desired color.
Frost each cookie (image 6). Next, add sprinkles (optional) on top (image 7).
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Be sure to chill the dough. Without chilling, the cookies may spread too much.
- Let your cookies cool completely before frosting them.
🥡 How to store leftovers
Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container. They will be good for up three days after making. If you live in a warm climate, you may want to store them in your refrigerator.
📋 Recipe FAQs
Yes, Amish butter has a little bit more fat than regular American butter. It will give you a richer texture and taste in your baked goods.
Decorated sugar cookies are usually very popular at Christmas.
The Amish use fresh ingredients and simple recipes.
Amish food is usually made from farm fresh ingredients. Amish recipes are simple and family friendly. They usually make large portions since many have large families to feed.
🎅 Other Christmas recipes:
If you tried these Amish Christmas Cookies or any other recipe on my site, please leave a ⭐ rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I would love to hear from you!
Amish Christmas Cookies
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Mixer
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
For the cookies
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup shortening *
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 to 6 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
- food coloring
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
For the cookies
- Cream together the shortening, butter, vanilla, and sugar.½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup shortening, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Next, mix in the other cookie ingredients. Mix until well incorporated (do not over mix).3 large eggs, 3 ½ cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- Chill for at least one hour.
- Form cookie dough balls and place on a well greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden. Let rest for five minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting
- While the cookies are cooling, mix together the ingredients for the frosting. Beat until fluffy and well combined.½ cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 4 cups powdered sugar, 4 to 6 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
- Divide the frosting into different bowls for your desired colors. Stir in food coloring. I recommend starting with less then adding more until you get the desired color.food coloring
- Frost each cookie. Next, add sprinkles (optional) on top!sprinkles
Notes
- Be sure to chill the dough. Without chilling, the cookies may spread too much.
- Let your cookies cool completely before frosting them.
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