Santa’s Button Mini Holiday Shortbread Bites Recipe
Santa’s button shortbread bites are a fun and jolly treat to make this holiday season. These mini Christmas cookies are easy to make and look adorable with their candy “button” center.
Ideal for cookie swaps, gift tins, holiday dessert boards, and more, these tiny cookies bring merriness to any holiday party. This post contains affiliate links.
Get ready for a giant batch of mini fun because this recipe makes 100 tiny cookies!
Santa’s Button Mini Christmas Cookies
The ideas for shortbread bites recipes just keep flowing over here, and I’m loving it. Combine my love of all things mini, plus the buttery flavor of shortbread, and I just can’t get enough of these types of cookies.
Santa’s button shortbread cookies are another cute recipe to add to your Christmas cookie baking list. Toss these little goodies into cookie tins, add them to bowls at your parties, and however else you’d like to serve the poppable little sweets.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Just simple ingredients
Directions
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Set it aside.
In a bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Add the cold butter and use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the mixture until it becomes crumbly.
Add the water to the dough and toss it together. Use your hands to knead the mixture into a smooth dough.
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Use a small round cutter, like an apple corer, to cut out the dough. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheet.
Gently press a cinnamon candy into the center of each cookie.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms just begin to brown.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely before serving.
Similar Recipes
If you love these shortbread bites as much as we do, we have a lot of them for you to try. Grinch bites are another fun one for the ultimate holiday vibes. Elf bites are also adorbs, and a way to include the elves on Santa’s Christmas eve tray. Candy Cane shortbread cookies are a merry addition to any party. And, for any time of the year, Galaxy bites for the intergalactic crowd.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Use chocolate candies – Try red M&M’s or mini red chocolate candies for the button detail.
- Switch the color – Use green or white candies for a different button style.
- Add edible shimmer – Brush a little edible glitter on the candy for a magical button effect.
- Try mini gumdrops – Flatten them slightly to mimic a button look.
- Experiment with sprinkles – Use a small round sprinkle pressed into the center to keep the button theme.
Tools you’ll need
Here are some kitchen tools you’ll need for this recipe.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Tips & Tricks
- Keep the dough cold – Chill if it gets sticky.
- Use a small cutter – An apple corer works well.
- Press gently – Just enough to stick the candy.
- Check for doneness – Look for lightly browned bottoms.
Recipe Notes & FAQ
Do I need to chill the dough?
It’s not required but can help if the dough becomes too soft.
Can I make these ahead?
Yes, you can bake them a day or two in advance and store in an airtight container.
Do I have to use Red Hots?
No, any small red candy works as long as it fits the button look.
What’s the best cutter to use?
The Pampered Chef apple corer is perfect for these cookies. It’s about 1 inch in diameter and has a core release feature that makes cutting and removing the dough quick and easy. A similar apple corer is linked in the recipe card.
Santa’s Button Mini Shortbread Cookies
Equipment
- Parchment Paper
- Rolling Pin
- Apple corer or small round cutter
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Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter 1 stick, cold and cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp water
- red candies cinnamon drops or red hot candies
Instructions
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine flour and sugar in bowl. Add butter and use pastry blender to cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly.1 ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup sugar, ½ cup butter
- Add water to dough and toss. Knead mixture with hands until smooth dough forms.2 tbsp water
- Roll dough onto lightly floured surface until 1/4″ thick. Use small round cutter, like apple corer, to cut dough into rounds. Place onto prepared baking sheet and gently press cinnamon candy into each cookie.red candies
- Bake 10-12 minutes or until bottoms just begin to brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Makes about 100 cookies.
- Chill dough if it gets sticky while working.
- Use an apple corer for perfect button size.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Our Favorite
Christmas Cookies
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If you try these jolly shortbread bites, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a comment below or share your pics on social media and tag me.
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