Looking to add some holiday fun to your elf shenanigans? These elf sized cookies are perfect for bringing some fun and cheer in the form of a bite sized cookie.
Recipe: $3.29 | Per Serving: $0.16 | Yield: 100 cookies
These mini cookies are a labor of love but always worth it! One batch of buttery cookie shortbread dough gets turned into 4 different types of Christmas cookies!
You'll get tiny chocolate chip cookies, Christmas crinkles, jam filled thumbprints, and festive mini sugar cookies with sprinkles. Four timeless Christmas cookie favorites in one batch.
For more Christmas fun, make sure to check out these Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms, Spiced Orange Ginger Ale Mocktail, Cranberry Orange Sauce, and Christmas Tree Fruit Pizza.
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- There's a lot of variety. One dough to make them all. This recipe can make several different types of traditional Christmas cookies, and you can make more of one, less of another, or try all the flavors for a great variety.
- Perfect for your Christmas elf shenanigans. These mini Christmas cookies are perfect for those of us with a little elf on the shelf hanging around. Have your elf bake up a batch while the kids sleep, or have the kids help make a batch for your elf. There are so many fun possibilities!
- Simple ingredients. We actually make a basic shortbread cookie base, which means very simple ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and vanilla, and from that, we build off to make our tasty variations. We use this same base in our Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies, and Cranberry Pecan Shortbread Cookies.
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Butter- You'll need butter to make the cookies rich in taste.
Granulated sugar- Add granulated sugar to the dough to make the cookies soft and sweet.
Food coloring- If desired, you can use red and green food coloring for a festive touch.
Powdered sugar- This will be used to make the dusting on the crinkle cookies.
Festive sprinkles- Use Christmas-themed or Christmas-colored sprinkles for a fun and festive touch.
Mini chocolate chips- These cookies are tiny so you'll need tiny chocolate chips to decorate them with.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
📖 Variations
- You can omit the sprinkles to make a plain sugar cookie.
- You can swap out the mini chocolate chips for mini M&Ms.
- Fill thumbprint cookies with lemon curd or chocolate ganache.
- Omit food coloring and instead mix in 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
🔪 Instructions for Elf Sized Cookies
Step 1: Combine sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy and light.
Step 2: Add in the flour and salt. Mix until combined.
Step 3: On floured plastic wrap, press into a disc shape and then wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Remove dough from fridge and slice dough into 4 equal sized pieces. Take one portion and slice that in half. Place all of these pieces onto a plate and set in the fridge while you work on one variety at a time.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Tiny Christmas Crinkles
Step 1: With the two smaller pieces add 2 drops of red food coloring to one and 2 drops to the other. Roll and mix them in your hands until the color is incorporated.
Step 2: Use a ¼ teaspoon to scoop the dough and roll it into little balls.
Step 3: Place powdered sugar into a small bowl or on a plate and roll your dough balls into the sugar before placing about an inch apart on your baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Let rest on the pan for 1-2 minutes and then place into the powdered sugar for a second coating. Let cool.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Take one large portion from the dough you sliced earlier and add in most of the mini chocolate chips. Roll in your hands to combine until evenly distributed.
Step 2: Use a ¼ teaspoon to scoop the dough and place it one inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. top with 1-4 mini chocolate chips for a nicer appearance.
Step 3: Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Let cool 2-3 minutes before transferring to a plate or wire rack.
Mini Sprinkle Cookies
Step 1: Incorporate most of the sprinkles into the dough by mixing them together. Then roll the dough out to be ¼ of an inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
Step 2: Use the bottom of a frosting tip to cut out tiny circles. How well this works depends on your sprinkles of choice. If it's too difficult you can just use a ¼ teaspoon to scoop and roll the dough.
Step 3: Place an inch apart on your baking sheet and top with additional sprinkles. Bake 8 minutes and let cool 1-2 minutes.
Tiny Thumbprint Cookies
Step 1: Scoop the dough with a ½ teaspoon measuring spoon and roll into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on your baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes.
Step 2: Immediately after baking use the back end of a ¼ teaspoon to press an indent into the center of the cookie.
Step 3: Fill the indents with jam. I like to place the jam in a baggie and snip the corner to make it easier and cleaner.
Step 4: Allow all of your cookies to cool and set before storing in an airtight container for up to a week.
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Preparation Tips. These Christmas elf cookies are simple to make but require some time and effort. Consider using multiple baking sheets and involving others in the baking process to expedite the task. You could even assign one type of cookie to each person to streamline production.
- Texture and Flavor. Once baked, the cookies will be crunchy but will soften over time. They often taste even better on the second day.
- Baking Recommendations. These cookies do not spread much during baking, allowing you to fit a generous amount on each baking sheet. However, leave at least an inch of space between the cookies as they expand while baking.
- Storage Tip. When not using the cookie dough, store it in the refrigerator. Chilling the dough helps maintain the cold butter, ensuring the cookies retain their shape and do not flatten excessively during baking.
💭 Recipe FAQs
The cookie dough can be made and stored up to 3 days in advance. The baked cookies will last up to a week. The thumbprint cookies will last closer to 4 days.
Yes, these cookies can be frozen after being baked. Let them cool completely and then store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw for a few minutes on the counter when ready to eat. I recommend having a wax paper or parchment paper layer between the thumbprint cookies to prevent sticking.
❤️ More Delicious Christmas Recipes
If you tried these Elf Sized Cookies, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Elf Sized Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar ($0.18)
- 1 cup butter, softened ($1.98)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.01)
- 2 cups all purpose flour ($0.26)
- ⅛ teaspoon salt (a pinch) ($0.01)
Cookie Add-ins
- 2 drops red food coloring ($0.02)
- 2 drops green food coloring ($0.02)
- ½ cup powdered sugar ($0.18)
- 1 Tablespoon mini chocolate chips ($0.07)
- 1 Tablespoon festive sprinkles ($0.16)
- ¼ cup jam ($0.40)
Instructions
- Combine sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy and light.
- Add in the flour and salt. Mix until combined.
- On floured plastic wrap, press into a disc shape and then wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Remove dough from fridge and slice dough into 4 equal sized pieces. Take one portion and slice that in half. Place all of these pieces onto a plate and set in the fridge while you work on one variety at a time.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Tiny Christmas Crinkles
- With the two smaller pieces add 2 drops of red food coloring to one and 2 drops of green to the other. Roll and mix them in your hands until the color is incorporated.
- Use a ¼ teaspoon to scoop the dough and roll it into little balls.
- Place powdered sugar into a small bowl or on a plate and roll your dough balls into the sugar before placing about an inch apart on your baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Let rest on the pan for 1-2 minutes and then place into the powdered sugar for a second coating. Let cool.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Take one large portion from the dough you sliced earlier and add in most of the mini chocolate chips. Roll in your hands to combine until evenly distributed.
- Use a ¼ teaspoon to scoop the dough and place it one inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. top with 1-4 mini chocolate chips for a nicer appearance.
- Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Let cool 2-3 minutes before transferring to a plate or wire rack.
Mini Sprinkle Cookies
- Incorporate most of the sprinkles into the dough by mixing them together. Then roll the dough out to be ¼ of an inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
- Use the bottom of a frosting tip to cut out tiny circles. How well this works depends on your sprinkles of choice. If it's too difficult you can just use a ¼ teaspoon to scoop and roll the dough.
- Place an inch apart on your baking sheet and top with additional sprinkles. Bake 8 minutes and let cool 1-2 minutes.
Tiny Thumbprint Cookies
- Scoop the dough with a ½ teaspoon measuring spoon and roll into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on your baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes.
- Immediately after baking use the back end of a ¼ teaspoon to press an indent into the center of the cookie.
- Fill the indents with jam. I like to place the jam in a baggie and snip the corner to make it easier and cleaner.
- Allow all of your cookies to cool and set before storing in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
- Plan ahead for a softer texture; they're initially crunchy but soften the next day.
- Use multiple baking sheets to save time.
- Space cookies an inch apart; they don't spread much.
- Refrigerate unused dough to maintain its shape.
- Dough can be made up to 3 days ahead; baked cookies last up to a week.
- Thumbprint cookies keep for around 4 days.
- Freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw briefly on the counter. Use wax or parchment paper between cookies to prevent sticking.
Chanel Pugh says
Congratulations! You've created Christmas Cookie Crisp Cereal.
Nicole says
Hahaha that sounds like a great idea