Traditional Yule Prosperity Cookies Recipe
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.
- 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.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential for easy rolling and best texture.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding flour to keep cookies tender.
- Using whole bay leaves adds a traditional, symbolic touch when gifting.
- Cookies can be decorated with coarse sugar for added texture and appearance.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to two weeks.
Keywords: Yule cookies, Holiday cookies, Prosperity cookies, Spiced cookies, Christmas cookies
