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Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe with Sprinkles

An easy Christmas shortbread cookies recipe is a real time-saver whenever you need cookies. This recipe is easy enough to whip up quickly.

Have a last minute holiday party to attend? These little Christmas cookies don’t take long to make at all. A quick color change of the sprinkles makes them appropriate for the rest of the year, as well.

Little shortbread cookies covered in red and green sprinkles.

Easy Holiday Shortbread Cookies

My grandma had a favorite bakery in town when I was growing up. Every time we went to that bakery, I would get shortbread cookies with tiny round sprinkles. They were my absolute favorite cookie.

This recipe for shortbread cookies with nonpareils (what adults call tiny round sprinkles) brings back a flood of wonderful childhood memories for me.

This recipe makes an entire army of tiny cookies, so it’s ideal for Christmas cookie swaps, filling holiday gift tins, bake sales, or large gatherings.

As always, small desserts are excellent for fairy tea parties. Use rainbow or assorted pastel colors to include them at your woodland fairy party!

Christmas Shortbread Cookies Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this Christmas cookie recipe. The measurements are in the recipe card below.

  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Red and green nonpareils

Holiday Shortbread Cookies Directions

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.

Beat the butter with a mixer until it’s light and fluffy.

Whisk together all the dry ingredients. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and mix until well combined.

Dust your hands with additional cornstarch to handle the dough if it’s too sticky.

Use your hands to shape the dough into 1″ balls.

Flatten each dough ball a little with the palm of your hand.

Dip the dough balls into the nonpareils and place them on the prepared baking pan about 2″ apart.

Bake the cookies for 20-22 minutes. You want the cookies to be set but not brown.

Remove the baked cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to let them cool completely.

Christmas Shortbread Cookies wit red and green sprinkles.

Shortbread Cookies with Sprinkles Recipe Notes and FAQ

How many shortbread cookies does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 6-8 dozen cookies. There are a lot of tiny cookies!

What is the texture of these cookies like?

These tasty little morsels just melt in your mouth. If you like bakery-style shortbread cookies, these taste a lot like the ones in our local bakery.

Holiday shortbread cookies with red, green, and white nonpareils.

How can I make these cookies after the holidays?

It’s easy to match the holiday or theme you need by simply changing the color of the sprinkles. Use red and pink sprinkles for Valentine’s Day, pastel colors for Easter, rainbow for unicorn parties, and more. The possibilities are endless.

Yield: 6-8 dozen

Holiday Shortbread Cookies

Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe with Sprinkles

Delicious little Christmas shortbread cookies covered in red and green sprinkles.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • Nonpareils

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Using a mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy. Combine dry ingredients together, and gradually add to creamed butter until well blended.
  3. If dough is sticky, dust hands with additional cornstarch as you shape dough into 1″ balls. Flatten slightly with the palms of your hands. Dip in nonpareils and place on a parchment lined baking pan about 2″ apart.
  4. Bake for 20-22 minutes until set but not brown.
  5. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. Makes 6-8 dozen.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

96

Serving Size:

1 cookie

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 46Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 0g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only.

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Little shortbread cookies covered in red, green, and white nonpareils.

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Please let me know if you make these holiday shortbread cookies!

Susan Chester

Thursday 30th of November 2017

These look so easy! And they are cute and festive. I am pinning this so I can try soon.

Anne

Friday 20th of January 2017

Mmmmm. Shortbread cookies are definitely among my favorites, partly because of their simplicity. I love the idea of coating them with sprinkles --they're so festive. And not just for Christmas, either. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

Anne Marie Carter

Tuesday 27th of December 2016

I usually make Shortbread Cookies during the holidays but, I've never thought of adding sprinkles to them. Next year, mine will have spriinkles! Great recipe! I saved and also printed it.

Karen Glatt

Friday 16th of December 2016

I love Shortbread cookies and these cookies look so delicious and I want to make these over the Holiday break.

Dana Rodriguez

Thursday 15th of December 2016

Those are perfect for the holidays. I love shortbread cookies and those are very colorful! Thanks for the recipe!

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