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 something about the buttery, crumbly texture of these tiny treats that instantly brings holiday cheer to my kitchen. This Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe is such a cozy little classic — perfect for sharing around the tree or packing up as thoughtful gifts.

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’m always on the lookout for cookies that taste as good as they look, and these Christmas Shortbread Bites fit the bill perfectly. There’s just something magical about combining simple ingredients with colorful sprinkles that instantly brightens the holidays.

Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry staples, making this an easy go-to recipe during the busy season.
Delightful Texture: These bites are buttery, crumbly, and melt-in-your-mouth perfect every single time.
Fun Customization: Add your favorite sprinkles or extracts to make each batch unique and festive.
Great for Gifting: They store beautifully, so you can bake ahead and share the love with friends and family.

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

Each ingredient plays a special role here — from the creamy butter that forms the base to the dreamy almond extract that gives these Christmas Shortbread Bites their signature flavor. Let’s break it down so you know exactly why I choose these.

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: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level more precisely, giving you that perfect balance in every bite.
Powdered sugar: This keeps the texture silky smooth, without the graininess regular sugar can sometimes add.
Almond extract: A little goes a long way in bringing a subtle, nutty fragrance — but you can swap it for vanilla if you prefer.
All-purpose flour: This staple gives the cookies structure and that tender crumb everyone loves.
Kosher salt: Just a pinch brightens all the flavors, enhancing the sweetness beautifully.
Christmas colored nonpareils: These add festive pops of color and a slight crunch, making the bites irresistible.

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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 tweak based on your mood or what sprinkles you have on hand. Play around with flavors and colors — it’s all about making this recipe your own festive tradition!

Variation: I often swap almond extract for vanilla when serving these at family gatherings — it’s subtle but changes up the flavor enough to feel special.
Sprinkle swaps: Red and green nonpareils are classic, but I’ve made batches with blue for Hanukkah and even pastel sprinkles for winter birthdays with great responses.
Skip chilling: When I’m short on time, I skip chilling the dough and cut it immediately. The texture isn’t quite as neat, but they still bake up wonderfully.

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

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugar Until Light and Fluffy

Start by making sure your butter is softened to room temperature — this makes creaming a breeze. Beat the butter, powdered sugar, and almond extract together until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Don’t rush this part; scraping down the bowl often helps everything blend evenly for that perfect texture.

Step 2: Incorporate the Flour Gently

Slowly add the flour and salt in small batches. Mix on low speed or by hand, and be patient — shortbread dough is delicate, so take your time until it just begins to come together.

Step 3: Stir in the Sprinkles and Chill

Fold in your Christmas-colored nonpareils carefully so they don't bleed color. Then press the dough evenly into your lined pan and chill it in the fridge for 20 minutes. This step is key because it makes cutting easier and prevents the bites from spreading too much when baking.

Step 4: Cut and Bake

Lift the chilled dough out of the pan using the plastic wrap or parchment paper and place it on a cutting board. Slice into neat ½-inch squares using a sharp knife. Transfer the squares carefully onto ungreased cookie sheets, giving a little space between each. Bake at 325°F for about 10-12 minutes — watch for that faint golden edge to know they’re done.

Top Tip

From my experience, the key to perfect Christmas Shortbread Bites is patience and gentle handling. I learned this the hard way when I tried rushing the dough — the cookies ended up crumbly and misshapen! These tips will help you shine in your kitchen, promise.

Soft Butter is Essential: Always use butter softened to room temperature—not melted, not too cold. It gives you that lovely creamy base for smooth dough.
Don’t Overmix: Stir the flour until it just starts to come together; overmixing can toughen the dough.
Chilling Helps: Chilling the dough makes slicing much easier and yields cleaner edges.
Watch the Bake Time: These little bites brown quickly once they start to color. Keep an eye on them after the 10-minute mark so they don’t overbake.

How to Serve Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe

Christmas Shortbread Bites - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like adding a light dusting of powdered sugar on top once the bites have cooled, especially if I’m gifting them—it adds a little snowy magic. And before baking, I sprinkle an extra handful of nonpareils on top to amp up the festive vibe and color.

Side Dishes

These shortbread bites pair exceptionally well with a hot cup of spiced tea or rich hot chocolate. I also love setting them alongside a cheese board or spiced nuts for a full holiday snack spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve arranged these bites in tiny festive cupcake liners and stacked them on tiered trays sprinkled with powdered sugar “snow.” Wrapping them in clear cellophane tied with twine makes darling homemade gifts too.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once fully cooled, I store any leftover Christmas Shortbread Bites in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and buttery for up to a week — sometimes longer if they’re well sealed.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these cookies before, both as unbaked dough blocks (wrapped tightly) or after baking. Both work well! When freezing dough, just thaw it fully in the fridge before slicing and baking.

Reheating

If you want to warm these bites up, pop them in a low oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes or microwave gently for 10-15 seconds. They regain that fresh-baked softness without drying out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter in this recipe?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but I recommend skipping the additional kosher salt the recipe calls for to avoid oversalting your cookies.

Do I have to chill the dough before baking?

Chilling the dough isn't mandatory, but it makes cutting the dough cleanly easier and helps the shortbread maintain its shape without spreading during baking.

Can I substitute almond extract with vanilla?

Absolutely! Vanilla extract works wonderfully in this recipe, lending a more traditional sweet flavor while keeping the cookies tender and delicious.

How long do shortbread bites keep fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these Christmas Shortbread Bites stay fresh for up to a week.

Final Thoughts

Sharing these Christmas Shortbread Bites Recipe with my friends and family over the years has made it feel like such a meaningful tradition. They’re the perfect blend of sweet, buttery comfort with a dash of playful color — and I really hope you enjoy baking and sharing them just as much as I do. Give this recipe a try, and I promise, it’ll become a holiday favorite in your kitchen too!