Description
Bring sweet nostalgia to your holiday table with these Retro Christmas Gumdrop Cookies! These buttery cookies are soft in the center, lightly crunchy on the outside, and studded with colorful, chewy gumdrops. Ideal for quick holiday treats, cookie exchanges, or festive dessert platters. Whether you’re hunting for a fun Christmas baking idea or need an easy recipe that delivers vintage holiday charm, this one’s a classic keeper. Perfect for cookie trays, parties, or baking with kids.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
0.5 teaspoon baking soda
0.25 teaspoon salt
1.5 cups chopped gumdrops (avoid black ones)
additional granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Chop gumdrops into quarters and set aside. Avoid black gumdrops due to strong flavor.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
4. Add egg and vanilla; beat until fully combined.
5. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
6. Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture until dough forms.
7. Fold in chopped gumdrops evenly with a spatula.
8. Scoop tablespoon-sized dough portions and roll into balls.
9. Roll each ball in sugar and place on baking sheet 2 inches apart.
10. Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers are soft.
11. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use sharp kitchen scissors or a greased knife to cut gumdrops without sticking.
Do not overbake! Cookies continue to set on the sheet as they cool.
Black gumdrops (usually licorice) can overpower the flavor—skip them.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 18mg