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Christmas Shortbread Bites are SUPER ADDICTIVE little squares of buttery goodness! A fun alternative to the standard Christmas cookie!
Christmas Shortbread Bites
I think I mentioned before that we have a tradition in our house to make regular Christmas cookies each year. But we also HAVE to have these Christmas Shortbread Bites too.
They're the same as shortbread cookies, but cut into little tiny cute squares.
My favorite thing about them, (besides the taste!) is that you can pop them into your mouth and there's no cookie crumb mess! This is a win when you have kids, aka perpetual mess makers.
So run out right now, get these ingredients and make these cookies!
Once you try these AMAZING buttery, crunchy cookie bites, you'll have a new treat you'll have to make every year. I promise!
Tips for Making Christmas Shortbread Bites
The ingredients needed to make these Christmas Shortbread Bites are very few, and super simple. Flour, sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt.
One other ingredient needed is sprinkles. You can use any sprinkles that you like. Above are a few of my favorite Christmas sprinkles. This time I used the red, green and white nonpareils.
Mixing the Dough
You can use a hand mixer to mix the dough, but I just used a whisk this time and it worked out just fine. You want to have the butter at complete room temperature and soft, to make sure it will mix easily with the sugar and vanilla, which is pictured above.
Once you mix the sugar and butter mixture together with the dry ingredients, the cookie dough will look a little dry and crumbly, and this is ok!
Shaping the Dough
Dump the cookie dough out onto parchment paper or foil and press together and form into a firm rectangle that is about 1 inch high. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so it has time to firm up. After the dough has chilled, cut it into 1 inch slices, and then into 1 inch cubes.
I love to bake cookies (or anything for that matter) on a silicone baking mat. This Silpat Baking Mat is one of the best, however, the one I'm using above is the Real Simple Baking Mat and I am loving it.
When you use a silicone baking mat, there's no cooking spray, or greasing of the pan required. Nothing sticks either. It truly is a miracle.
The pan is also clean as a whistle after baking. The first time I used one of these, I seriously thought to myself, "Where have these been all my life?"
📋 Recipe
Christmas Shortbread Bites
Ingredients
- 3 sticks butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix softened butter with sugar and vanilla.
- Mix flour and salt.
- Mix butter mixture into flour mixture, until a crumbly dough is formed. Add sprinkles and mix.
- Dump cookie dough out onto parchment paper or foil, and form into a firmly packed rectangle shape that is 1 inch in height.
- Chill dough in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- After dough has chilled, cut dough into 1 inch slices, and then into 1 inch cubes. Place cubes onto a silicone mat lined baking pan or a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden brown on the bottom edges.
Notes
Nutrition
If you're looking for other Christmas cookie ideas, check out my M&M Crinkle Christmas Cookies or my Butterscotch Snickerdoodle Cookies.
Monna Ellithorpe
Hey Teri,
This is great. I absolutely LOVE shortbread cookies. I don't think these little bites would be around long if I were there.
They look so pretty with the Christmas colors in them.
Have a very Merry Christmas
Teri
Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you!
Jessica
These look like so much fun! Perfect for a hot chocolate bar I think!
Teri
That's a great idea! I'm actually making a hot chocolate bar on Christmas Eve. They would go great with it. Thanks!
Nick
These are addicting and don’t last long everyone. Fussy kids can’t say no and either can I! Makes me feel young again.
Teri
Yes, they are SO addictive!! You are so right!
Unicorn gal 22
Hi i didi this and it was gross because i missed the instruction to cook em lol
Victoria
Delicious and cute, thank you for the recipe.
Jen
These remind me of the ones Rockey Mountain Chocolate Factory used to make, with peppermint flavouring and covered in chocolate. Cannot wait to make these.
Could also add cocoa, and cover them in peppermint candy melts.
Teri
Thanks for the yummy idea!!
Linda
Would this work for any cookie dough like peanut butter, choc chip or oatmeal? Just curious, thanks!
Teri
I don't think so unless the cookie dough is one that won't spread. BUT, this is a great idea and I think I'll try to come up with some other types of bite-sized cookies! Sign up for my email that lets you know when new recipes are out, and hopefully I can figure these out. They are so cute and I love having a "bowl" of cookies! 🤣
Marci
Can you double this recipe?
Teri
Yes, however I would keep the formed rectangle as two. It may be too large and difficult to work with.
DeeDee
Can they be frozen? If so, Would you freeze after baking?
Teri
I haven't tried freezing them, but I will try this on my next batch to see how they hold up. I'll report back.