German Cutout Christmas Cookies (easy + vegan)
These simple German Cutout Christmas Cookies are a must bake during Christmas time. It is no wonder that this classic "Weihnachtsplätzchen" recipe has delighted generations of cookie-eaters. They are so delicious, buttery sweet and festive. You can decorate these butter cookies with your favorite icing, sprinkles - or enjoy them as is!
Servings: 35 cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowl, rolling pin, christmas themed cookie cutters, baking sheet
Ingredients
- 250 grams all purpose flour, unbleached (8.8 oz)
- 90 grams cane sugar, organic (3.1 oz)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 125 grams vegan butter, chilled (1 stick + 1 tbsp)
- 4 tablespoons aquafaba
- a pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon tsp lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or a package of vanilla sugar (9g)
- for decoration: vegan royal icing, or regular icing, festive sprinkles, vegan food coloring, and whatever more you desire
Instructions
- Add cane sugar to a food processor, or mixer, and pulse several times to grind fine.
- Add flour, cane sugar and cornstarch to a bowl and mix until combined. If using vanilla sugar, add now as well. Add butter in small pieces, aquafaba, lemon zest and extracts. Then mix and knead into a shortbread dough. Form dough into a large ball and refrigerate covered for at least half an hour.
- Prheat oven to 180°C / 355°F, top and bottom heat. Divide dough ball in half (return one half to refrigerator) and roll out. You can roll the dough out on a baking mat, lightly floured work surface, or in between parchment paper or plastic wrap.
- Cut out cookies with you favorite festive cookie cutter. Place on a baking sheet lightly greased with vegan butter, or lined with parchment paper. Do the same with the second portion of dough. Knead access dough scraps together, roll out and chill briefly before cutting out cookie shapes. Keeping the dough as cold as possible helps keeping them in shape, and makes cutting out cookies so easy!
- Bake for about 11-14 minutes, depending on thickness and how crunchy you'd like the cookies. They should be baked golden, with lightly browned edges and snap when breaking them. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Once cooled decorate as desired (with icing, decorative sprinkles, etc.).