Introduction

Traditional Yule Prosperity Cookies are a delightful way to celebrate the season with warm spices and a touch of sweetness. These tender cookies carry the festive flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, perfect for sharing or gifting during the holidays.

A close-up of several light brown round cookies with a smooth texture stacked in two piles on a silver cooling rack, one cookie in front showing a dried green bay leaf on top, with scattered cookies and extra bay leaves placed around. Behind the rack, there are three lit beige candles adding warm light to the scene, all set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coarse sugar for rolling
Whole bay leaves (1 per cookie if gifting)

Instructions

Step 1: Whisk the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt together in a medium bowl until the spices are evenly distributed and the mixture turns a light tan color.
Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until pale yellow and fluffy, scraping down the bowl sides halfway through.
Step 3: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat on medium speed until smooth and glossy, about 1 minute.
Step 4: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in three parts, mixing on low speed until just combined after each addition. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
Step 5: Divide the dough in half, shape each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days for easier handling.
Step 6: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness, then cut into festive shapes like suns, moons, stars, or trees.
Step 7: For sparkle and crunch, roll the cut cookies in coarse sugar before baking. If gifting, gently press one whole bay leaf onto each unbaked cookie to bake it into the surface.
Step 8: Place the cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets spaced 1 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges start to turn golden; centers may look slightly underdone but will firm as they cool.
Step 9: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

Use a mixture of spices like cardamom or cloves in place of allspice for a personalized flavor twist.
Chilling the dough longer enhances flavor and makes rolling easier.
Wrap cookies individually with bay leaves as a unique, meaningful gift presentation.
For a vegan version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and use a flax egg instead of a regular egg.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. If stacking, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. For best texture, serve at room temperature and avoid refrigeration, which can make them dry.

How to Serve

The image shows a group of round cookies with small dark specks, arranged on a dark wooden board placed on a white marbled surface. There is a tall stack of six cookies in the center of the board, with one cookie leaning against the stack. Around the board, more cookies are scattered evenly on the white marbled surface. To the left of the board, there are sprigs of green herbs and a wedge of lemon, while a white vase with small purple flowers is visible in the background on the right. The overall look is clean and rustic with soft natural lighting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before rolling and baking, which helps deepen the flavors and makes it easier to handle.

Why do the cookies sometimes look underdone in the center?

The centers of these cookies may appear slightly soft when taken out of the oven but will firm up as they cool. This helps keep them tender and prevents overbaking.

Traditional Yule Prosperity Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

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4.6 from 113 reviews

Traditional Yule Prosperity Cookies are a festive, spiced treat perfect for the holiday season. These buttery cookies combine warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice for a comforting flavor, baked to a delicate golden perfection and optionally adorned with coarse sugar and symbolic bay leaves. Ideal for sharing or gifting, they bring a touch of seasonal cheer and prosperity to any celebration.

Author: Cleo
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Decoration

Coarse sugar for rolling
Whole bay leaves (1 per cookie if gifting)

Instructions

Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt in a medium bowl until the spices are evenly distributed and the mixture turns a light tan color.
Cream butter and sugar: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar for 3-4 minutes until pale yellow and fluffy, scraping down the bowl halfway through.
Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and slightly glossy, about 1 minute.
Combine wet and dry ingredients: Add the flour mixture in three additions to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed after each addition just until combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the cookies.
Chill the dough: Divide dough into two disks, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days to firm up for rolling and cutting.
Roll and cut: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes such as suns, moons, stars, or trees, and place on parchment-lined baking sheets spaced 1 inch apart.
Optional decoration: Roll cut cookies in coarse sugar for sparkle and crunch. If gifting, gently press one whole bay leaf onto each unbaked cookie to bake into the surface.
Bake: Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes until edges are just turning golden. Centers may appear slightly underdone but will firm as they cool. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Place parchment paper between layers if stacking to prevent sticking.