Meltaway cookies are a soft, lightly sweet shortbread cookie that literally melts in your mouth. A thin glaze and red-and-green sprinkles make them a festive Christmas cookie.
These meltaway cookies take me back to my days working in a bakery. We made them often for weddings and special occasions because they were popular and simple to prepare.
Meltaway cookies use a short list of ingredients — butter, powdered sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, salt and flour. There are no eggs or baking soda because these are shortbread-style cookies, not sugar cookies.
The combination of cornstarch and powdered sugar is what gives these cookies their signature, melt-in-your-mouth texture. They dissolve into a buttery, sweet powder on the tongue.
A light glaze adds just enough sweetness to finish the cookie, and red-and-green sprinkles give them a cheerful holiday look. These are excellent for neighbor gifts or a cookie tray.
Christmas Meltaway Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies:
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature (1 ½ sticks or 12 Tbsp)
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- ½ cup (80 g) cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour (stir, spoon & level)
Glaze:
- 1½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 3 to 4 Tbsp milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla or almond extract
Optional:
- Red & green sprinkles/nonpareils
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter with the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Add the vanilla and mix until combined.
- Whisk together the salt and flour, then add to the butter mixture. Mix until the dough comes together and forms clumps.
- Scoop dough onto baking sheets lined with silicone or parchment. Flatten each dough ball with the bottom of a measuring cup dipped in powdered sugar.
- Bake at 350°F for 8 to 12 minutes, until just set. Do not overbake—the cookies should remain pale.
- Whisk the glaze ingredients together, adding milk 1 teaspoon at a time until you have a slightly thick glaze. Spoon or drizzle glaze onto cooled cookies.
- Immediately sprinkle with red and green sprinkles while the glaze is wet. Allow glaze to harden. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Video
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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