Ree Drummond bakes a lot of treats at her Oklahoma ranch—but there's one Christmas cookie recipe she loves most.
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Ree Drummond loves the holidays. Between her family’s Christmas traditions and her signature holiday dishes, she sure knows how to make her ranch holly-jolly. But it’s never officially the holidays until she’s made a batch of her favorite Christmas cookies.
The Pioneer Woman loves a classic sugar cookie with frosting, perfect for the holidays—and practically any other season. When Ree shared her Christmas cookie recipe, she said these cookies look great with a classic egg yolk glaze on top. You could also use your favorite frosting and/or sprinkles. (Don’t miss out on our favorite Christmas sprinkles!)
However you choose to decorate them, these Pioneer Woman Christmas cookies are sure to bring the holiday spirit to your kitchen.
How to Make Ree Drummond’s Go-To Christmas Cookies
Taste of Home, Getty Images, via foodnetwork.com
You’ll need a long list of ingredients—but recipe is fairly straightforward.
Ingredients
2/3 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated orange or lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
4 teaspoons milk
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out dough
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Here’s what you’ll need for Ree’s simple glaze:
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon water
2 to 3 drops food coloring
And her homemade icing:
One 2-pound bag powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons egg whites
Directions
Step 1: Cream shortening and other ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, start by creaming together shortening, vanilla extract, sugar and orange peel (or lemon zest). Drop in one egg, beat until the mixture is fluffy, then add your milk and thoroughly combine.
Step 2: Add your dry ingredients and chill
Sift your flour, baking powder and salt into the same bowl, and mix until just combined. Go ahead and divide your dough in half, place it between two sheets of wax paper and then store it in your fridge for an hour. You can also stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes if you’re short on time. But never skip chilling your sugar cookie dough!
Step 3: Prep glaze
While the dough is chilling, you’ll have some time to whip together a quick egg yolk glaze. In a small bowl, mix up your egg yolk, water and food coloring.
Step 4: Cut out your cookies and bake
After it’s spent some time chilling, remove your dough from the fridge (or freezer) and roll it out on a floured surface. Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out the cookie shapes, and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Dip a baking brush into your glaze bowl, and lightly brush the egg yolk glaze over the tops of your cookies. Pop the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 6 minutes at 375°F.
Yes, only 6 minutes—be sure not to let the cookies brown at all!
Step 5: Prep icing and decorate
If you want to make homemade icing, mix together your powdered sugar, milk and egg whites. When the cookies are done baking and have fully cooled on a wire rack, decorate them however you’d like with a piping bag and your from-scratch icing. Don’t forget to try these millionaire bars, a million-dollar version of shortbread.
Here’s What I Thought
No wonder Ree loves this recipe. It’s so easy! And it’s proof that Christmas cookies don’t have to be so complicated (although some recipes can be pretty impressive).
This recipe is incredibly simple to throw together, and with such a short baking time, you’ll have cookies ready and frosted for a Christmas cookie swap later that day.
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Hannah is a writer and content creator based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a passion for all things food, health, community and lifestyle. She is a journalism graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a previous dining and drink contributor for Madison Magazine.
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Updated: Apr. 04, 2023
