Sprinkle Stocking Cookies Recipe

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies

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Santa might put something extra in your stocking if you leave him these cute cookies.

Southern Living Test Kitchen

Updated on December 15, 2021

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies — Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Active Time:

1 hr

Chill Time:

2 hrs

Total Time:

4 hrs 30 mins

Yield:

3 dozen

Delightfully buttery, full of almond flavor, and perfect for the sprinkle lover in your life, these Sprinkle Stocking Sugar Cookies are the ideal treat to ring in the holiday season. These cookies taste great, but the real draw is in the decoration—a fun, sparkly Christmas stocking to deck those halls. This recipe makes 3 dozen, leaving you with plenty of cookies to fill your tins.

Since the dough comes together in a snap, you'll still have plenty of time to focus on your Christmas dinner menu. Make the dough a day in advance to allow it to chill overnight—the next day, it's time to get baking. Turn the process of cutting, baking, and decorating into a fun activity for the whole family. Even the youngest kids can help you dip these cookies—a thick coating of assorted sprinkles makes these cookies fun for the little ones. For the neatest look, dip the lower half of each iced stocking in sprinkles before dipping the top half. Baking and decorating these cookies together will be a treasured Christmas memory for many years to come.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
1 (1-lb.) pkg. powdered sugar, unsifted
6 to 7 tablespoons whole milk, as needed
Assorted colors of candy sprinkles or sanding sugar

Directions

Beat butter and granulated sugar with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, vanilla, and (if using) almond extract. Beat until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds. Gradually add flour and salt, beating on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Remove dough; shape into a flat disk about 1 inch thick. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface; roll to ⅛-inch thickness. Using a 3 ½-inch stocking-shaped cutter, cut out 36 cookies. Arrange 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
Bake in 2 batches in preheated oven until cookies are slightly golden around edges but pale in the center, 6 to 10 minutes per batch. Do not overbake. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Beat powdered sugar and 6 tablespoons milk with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until combined and smooth, 1 minute, stopping to scrape down bowl as needed. Beat in remaining 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Place sprinkle (or sanding sugar) colors on separate plates. Spoon icing into a piping bag or a ziplock plastic bag with 1 small corner snipped off.
Working with 1 cookie at a time, pipe an icing border, and then flood with icing. Using a wooden pick, spread icing to edges and corners. While icing is still wet, dip the lower portion of the stocking in 1 color of sprinkles; dip the upper portion in another color of sprinkles. Let stand until set, about 1 hour.

Tips

How to Make Sprinkle Stocking Cookies with Kids: To successfully make Sprinkle Stocking Cookies with your kids, you'll want to pour 2 colors of sprinkles onto respective plates ahead of time. Your kids can help you roll out the dough (try to keep it an even thickness) and cut out the cookies with a stocking-shaped cutter. It's important to bring your icing to a spreadable consistency—if it's too loose, it will simply run off the sides of the cookie. Learn more.

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies

Ingredients

Directions

Tips

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