Welcome to the world of delightful baking! If you’re craving a cookie that is incredibly soft, buttery, and truly melts in your mouth, you’ve just found your new favorite recipe. Melting Moment Logs are a beloved treat, especially during the festive season. Their light and crumbly texture, combined with a sweet icing glaze, makes them an irresistible choice for any occasion. Plus, they are so easy to make and can be beautifully decorated with a sprinkle of chopped nuts or festive confetti!

Why You’ll Like This Recipe

These Melting Moment Logs live up to their delightful name! The secret lies in the harmonious blend of butter, powdered sugar, and cornstarch, which creates a cookie that’s not just soft but decadently rich too. Whether it’s the joy of the holidays or a simple treat to enjoy with a warm cup of tea, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your baking repertoire. The touch of icing brings just the right amount of sweetness, making these cookies perfect for any festive gathering.

Recipe: Melting Moment Logs

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Sprinkles or chopped nuts, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Begin by creaming together the softened butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2-3 minutes. Once fluffy, stir in the vanilla extract until seamlessly incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour and cornstarch together. Gradually mix these dry ingredients into the butter mixture until you form a soft dough that holds its shape.

Step 2: Shape the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Take small portions of your dough and roll them into log shapes, approximately 2 inches long and ½ inch thick. Place these logs on the baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking.

Step 3: Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, watching closely until the edges turn lightly golden. Be cautious not to overbake; these delicate cookies should maintain a pale appearance. Once done, remove them from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4: Make the Icing

While your cookies cool, it’s time to whip up the icing. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. The icing should be thick but flow easily; if it’s too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.

Step 5: Decorate the Cookies

Once your cookies are completely cool, it’s time to bring them to life! Drizzle or spread your icing over the tops of each cookie. While the icing remains wet, you can have fun decorating with chopped nuts or festive sprinkles, adding your personal touch!

Serving and Storage Tips

Serving:

These delightful Melting Moment Logs are perfect for pairing with a cup of tea or coffee! They also make a fantastic addition to any holiday dessert platter, making them ideal for gifting or sharing with family and friends during festive gatherings.

Storage:

You can keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want to prepare them in advance, simply freeze the baked (but undecorated) cookies for up to 3 months. Just remember to thaw them and ice them just before serving for the best flavor and texture!

Helpful Notes

• Shape Consistency: To ensure even baking, focus on forming your dough logs to a consistent size. Using a ruler can help you with this!
• Avoid Overbaking: Keep an eye on them in the oven; the ideal cookies should remain pale with just a touch of golden hue around the edges.
• Customize the Toppings: Get creative! You can use crushed pistachios, toasted almonds, or colorful holiday sprinkles to make the cookies even more festive.

FAQs

Q1: Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! The dough can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days prior to baking. You can also freeze the baked cookies and ice them later with no problem.

Q2: Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, you can opt for salted butter, but it’s best to adjust or eliminate any additional salt in the recipe to maintain a balanced flavor.

Q3: Can I add flavor to the icing?
Certainly! Feel free to personalize your icing by incorporating a splash of almond extract, some lemon zest, or a few drops of food coloring for added flair.

Q4: Can I use gluten-free flour?
Yes, you can swap out all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking mix. Make sure the mix contains a binder like xanthan gum to enable the cookies to hold their shape.

Q5: What can I do if the dough is too sticky?
If you find that your dough is overly sticky to handle, simply refrigerate it for around 20 minutes. This will firm it up, making shaping much easier.