Half Baked Harvest’s Holly Jolly Santa Cookies

Manageability – Not bad for a complicated-looking cookie.

If you’ve sat down and watched a Lifetime movie this holiday season (and I know you have – admit it), you’ll no doubt be aware that Christmas requires 2 things: the magical appearance of Santa, and baking cookies with the handsome love interest. Well guess what, you big city gal who returned home and has to save Christmas for her small town. These Holly Jolly Santa Cookies from Half Baked Harvest allow you knock out two turtle doves with one stone! Metaphorically, of course.

And they ain’t half bad to make. Like most cookie recipes, the mixing and baking directions are straight forward. It’s the decoration that makes these unique, and honestly those directions can be a bit confusing. Just exactly how big is a 1/4 inch ball of cookie dough? Don’t get too hung up on those sizes and use your best judgement utilizing the pictures provided to craft your St. Nicks. Also – cream cheese frosting. I love me some cream cheese frosting. This recipe yielded 8 full Santa cookies, and they were gone within 3 days. These are really good. Also, I mean come on these are adorable and funny. I was laughing the whole time I made them. The little red nose is the perfect finishing touch. It’s cold at the North Pole!

Just like a Lifetime Christmas movie, these cookies are not overly complicated, very sweet, and left me feeling all warm and Christmas-y. Ho ho ho!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 large room, at egg temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1-2 teaspoons red food coloring
• mini chocolate chips (for eyes and buttons)
• mini holiday M + M s (for Santa’s nose)

CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
• 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (mandatory)
• 1 1/2 cups powder sugar (punishable by spanking if forgotten)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Add the flour, and salt, beat until combined, and the dough begins to form a ball. Beat it. Just beat it. No one wants to be defeated.
3. Remove 1 cup of the dough and set aside. With the remaining dough, add in 1 teaspoon red food coloring, adding more if needed for better color. Keep in mind that the color will darken over time. Much like the human soul.
4. From the red cookie dough, make 1 (1-inch) ball and 5 (1/2-inch) balls. From the plain cookie dough, make 1 (3/4 inch) ball and 5 (1/4-inch) balls. You will have a body, head, hat, four red arms and four white hands and a white ball for the top of the hat. I find it easiest to make all the parts first, then assemble. But maybe you’re a little nuts.
5. On the prepared baking sheet, place the red 1-inch ball, gently flatten until 1/2 inch thick. Attach four of the red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Next, attach the plain 3/4-inch ball for a head, gently flatten until 1/2 inch thick. Attach the plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape the remaining red 1/2-inch ball into a triangle for a hat and attach it. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging the cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Add chocolate pieces for eyes and buttons (see above photos).
6. Transfer to the oven and bake the Santa’s for 12-15 minutes, until lightly golden (look at the hands).
7. To make the frosting. Add the butter and the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer and whip until extra light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat together until whipped, about 2 more minutes.
8. To decorate. Transfer half the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small tip. Use the bag to go around Santa’s face, arms, and legs. Put a small dot on the tip of his hat and hands, and then place one red mini M&M on his face as his nose. I guess you could give him more than that, but that’s on you.