Name: Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 42 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter softened; ¼ cup powdered sugar; ¼ teaspoon almond extract; 1 cup all-purpose flour; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 3 teaspoons Christmas colored nonpareils

There’s just something so festive about crispy, buttery little bites decorated with cheerful sprinkles, isn’t there? The Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe brings that perfect balance of melt-in-your-mouth texture with a joyful pop of holiday color, making it a favorite whenever I want to spread some seasonal cheer.

The image shows many small square cookies with light beige color, each topped with tiny red, green, and white round sprinkles evenly spread on the top surface. The cookies have a soft and slightly crumbly texture, piled in a white bowl lined with red tissue paper featuring large white polka dots. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface. In the background, there is red fabric with white snowflakes and white polka dots, giving a festive feel. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely adore this Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe because it’s so simple yet incredibly delightful — perfect for both beginners and seasoned bakers. It’s one of those recipes that brings back cozy holiday memories each time I make it, and I guarantee once you try it, you’ll be hooked too.

Easy-to-follow: The dough comes together quickly, and you don’t need fancy equipment to bake these treats.
Customizable: From sprinkles to extracts, you can switch up flavors and colors to match your holiday mood or occasion.
Perfect texture: Delicately crisp edges with a tender, buttery melt-in-your-mouth center.
Great for gifting: These little bites look adorable stacked in jars or tins, making gifting a breeze.

A close-up view of many small square cookies scattered closely together on a white marbled surface, each cookie pale cream in color with a lightly browned edge and topped with tiny round sprinkles in red, green, and white. The texture of the cookies looks soft and slightly crumbly with a slight golden bake on some pieces, creating a mix of light beige and golden tones. The sprinkles are evenly scattered across the tops, giving a festive look with a mix of bright red dots, dark green dots, and white dots. The image fills the frame fully with these bite-sized treats. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe keeps it straightforward, relying on wholesome ingredients that blend perfectly to create those tender, buttery bites you crave. Here’s a little insight into each one and why they’re essential:

Flat lay of a small slab of softened unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine powdered sugar, a few whole uncracked brown eggs nearby, a small white ceramic bowl with all-purpose flour, a pinch of kosher salt in a tiny white bowl, a scattering of colorful Christmas-themed nonpareil sprinkles arranged loosely on the table, and a small white ceramic bowl containing clear almond extract liquid, all arranged symmetrically and balanced, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: It’s the star of the show, giving richness and that classic shortbread flavor. Make sure it's softened — it blends better that way.
Powdered sugar: So fine and silky, it helps keep the texture delicate and smooth instead of grainy like regular sugar might.
Almond extract: Adds a subtle nutty aroma that lifts the whole cookie. If you prefer vanilla, that swap is easy too!
All-purpose flour: This forms the base, giving structure while keeping it tender. A tip: Scoop and level your flour for the best results.
Kosher salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and boost flavor complexity.
Christmas-colored nonpareils: These festive little sprinkles add crunch and joyful color that instantly makes these cookies holiday-ready.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Over the years, I’ve swapped extracts, tinkered with sprinkles, and even tried making them gluten-free — and each version brings something special to the table. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Variation: I once replaced the almond extract with peppermint extract, and it gave the cookies such a refreshing holiday twist—I highly recommend it if you love mint!
Sprinkle swaps: Try blue and white nonpareils for a Hanukkah version, or pastel sprinkles for Easter celebrations—this recipe adapts beautifully.
Double batch: Planning for a holiday party? Doubling the recipe and baking in a 9x13 pan saved me so much time!
Skipping the chill: If you're really pressed for time, you can cut and bake right away, but chilling makes cutting cleaner and the texture just a bit sturdier.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter, Sugar, and Extract

Start by mixing your softened butter, powdered sugar, and almond extract in an electric mixer bowl. Beat them together until everything is creamy and smooth, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl often. This step sets up the dough's delicate texture, so don’t rush it.

Step 2: Incorporate Flour and Salt Gently

Now, add the flour and salt bit by bit. Mix on low speed just until the dough starts forming — patience is key here. You want a tender, crumbly dough that holds together without getting tough. Resist the urge to overmix!

Step 3: Stir in Sprinkles and Chill

Fold in your Christmas-colored nonpareils gently. Then, gather the dough and press it evenly into your prepared baking dish lined with parchment or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 20 minutes — this chill step makes cutting the dough into neat squares effortless.

Step 4: Cut and Bake

Lift the chilled dough out onto a cutting board using the parchment or plastic liner. Cut into ½-inch squares carefully, then arrange them spaced apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 325°F oven for 10–12 minutes. Keep a close eye near the end—you want a light golden brown, not deep brown.

Top Tip

Over the years, I've picked up a few little tricks that take this Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe from good to absolutely perfect. These tips make all the difference and will help you avoid some common pitfalls.

Softened Butter is Key: Using butter that's just softened, not melted, makes the dough creamy but keeps the texture light.
Knead Gently: When you press the dough into your pan, don’t overwork it or you risk tough bites instead of tender ones.
Watch Your Oven: Shortbread browns quickly, so start checking at 10 minutes and remove as soon as edges turn light golden.
Sprinkle Generously: Toss a few extra nonpareils on top just before baking for an extra festive crunch and color pop.

How to Serve Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe

Christmas Shortbread Bites - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For serving, I love a light dusting of powdered sugar on top to make the colors pop even more. Sometimes, I drizzle a thin stream of white chocolate over the bites — not too much, just enough for a pretty festive touch that’s palate-pleasing.

Side Dishes

These shortbread bites are lovely with a warm cup of mulled cider or spiced hot chocolate. They’re a cozy, sweet companion to holiday drinks or after-dinner coffee. If you’re hosting, consider a cheese board with nuts and dried fruits to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve packaged these Christmas Shortbread Bites in small glass jars tied with ribbon as charming holiday gifts. Layering different sprinkle colors or dipping half in chocolate before baking also adds a fun seasonal flair. They make the perfect edible decor for your cookie table, especially stacked in a pretty tiered platter.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I store leftover shortbread bites in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep fresh and crisp for up to a week — though they rarely last that long in my house! If humidity is high, popping them in the fridge helps maintain that perfect crunch.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these bites before with great success. Lay them in a single layer on parchment-lined trays to freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready, let them thaw at room temperature. They hold their texture and flavor beautifully.

Reheating

If you want to freshen them up, I pop them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes before serving—just enough to bring back that fresh-baked warmth without drying them out. It’s a little trick that always impresses guests.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute almond extract with vanilla extract?

Absolutely! If you prefer vanilla, just swap almond extract for an equal amount of vanilla. The flavor will be more classic but still delicious.

Do I need to chill the dough before cutting?

Chilling the dough makes it much easier to cut into neat squares and helps the shortbread keep its shape during baking. You can skip it if you're in a hurry, but I recommend chilling if you have 20 extra minutes.

Can I use salted butter in this recipe?

Yes, you can. Just omit the added kosher salt in the recipe to keep the balance right. Salted butter contains enough salt on its own.

How should I store leftover shortbread bites?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and crisp for up to a week, or longer if kept in the fridge during humid weather.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe holds a special place in my heart — it’s become my go-to holiday treat that always brings smiles. I hope you enjoy baking (and snacking on) these little handmade joys as much as I do. Make a batch, gather the family, and savor that buttery Christmas magic together.