How do you get into the Christmas spirit?

Last night I turned on the local Christmas radio station and made these Technicolor Cookies from NYT Cooking. I’m an okay baker and let’s just say that after making these bad boys, my sister gave me the title “Star Baker,” so that says a lot.

The orange zest in these shortbread cookies definitely hits the spot. Plus, the best part is that you can use whatever colors you’d like to decorate them!

If you’re going to make them, here are some pointers:

1. Wear a beanie so you can channel your inner Marcus from “The Bear.” Yes, your family group chat might then explode and troll you for looking like a cute little gnome, but I say, TAKE IT. YOU’LL FEEL POWERFUL IN THE KITCHEN, CHEF.

Abercrombie & Fitch beanie (in a pretty blue color here), Patagonia fleece (no longer available, but look at this purple one!)

2. Watch this video tutorial. Baker Samantha Seneviratne walks you through the whole process and it’s VERY helpful!

3. Be very patient when chilling the shortbread dough AND make sure it’s very cold before you start cutting your rectangles. I popped the dough in the freezer for an extra 10 minutes to ease the cutting process.

4. A ruler would be helpful for having nice, sharp edges (I clearly didn’t…welp).

5. Once you add food coloring to the icing, let it rest so air bubbles can rise to the top. That way when you let our your inner Picasso in your main decorative icing bowl, all the air bubbles will dissipate and WON’T be on your cookies!

6. When lining up the baked cookies for icing, add a teeny tiny space in between them…that way, the icing can roll off the edges and be even + pretty.

7. Have smaller bowls for the icing, so you can quickly pour it over the cookies (although perhaps having a thinner icing consistency is key…you might want to ask a professional!)

8. HAVE FUN WITH THE COLORS! 💖💛💜💚❤️💙

Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie recipe? Let me know in the comments down below!

xo

Tori