These New Year's Eve Cookies are easy and simple to make. They are cute, fun and festive and include other ideas for decorated cookies for New Years. They are thick soft and chewy and will be gobbled up at a party or gathering.
These are popular for New Year's Eve, obviously. However this recipe is easily customizable for any holiday.
This was inspired by my Halloween Cookies, Sour Cream Cookies for Christmas, 4th of July Cookies and Fall Maple Cookies. It pairs well at a party with our Maraschino Cherry Cookies and our Molasses Cookies.
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Ingredients
Below is a list of ingredients needed for this recipe. Follow our tips on each ingredient for best results.
- butter - I used salted, make sure to add a pinch of salt extra if using unsalted butter
- granulated sugar - we tested this recipe with brown sugar and it completely changed the flavor and texture. This recipe needs only plain granulated white sugar.
- eggs
- vanilla extract - I always use pure
- flour, baking powder, salt - we tested this recipe over and over to get the perfect amounts of flour, baking powder and salt to create cookies with an amazing texture and flavor.
- powdered sugar - for the icing
- black cocoa - for a beautiful black frosting that doesn't have any dye.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make New Year's Eve Cookies
Use these process shots to help get the results you are wanting. The pictures can help with texture and be a visual guide for best results.
1. Beat the butter and sugar on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat for another minute. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low just until combined.
2. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour, up to overnight. If more than 3 hours, allow to thaw at room temperature for 10 minutes before use. Roll dough out to about ¼"-⅜" thick.
3. Cut out circles from the dough using a cookie cutter or even a glass. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and Bake at 400*F for 6-9 minutes, until the tops are matte and the edges have set. For super soft cookies, do not wait for them to turn golden.
4. While the cookies cool, make the frosting. Beat butter on high for 2 minutes until lightened and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat until well combined. Next add vanilla and beat. Add milk (optional) to thin, if desired. Frost cooled cookies and decorate with New Year's sprinkles. If wanting to use black frosting, pull some aside, then add the black cocoa and milk. Gold, black, and white are the most popular colors for New Year's Eve, then secondarily silver, purple and bright blue.
Hint: Don't skip the chilling step! I know it's hard to be patient and wait for the dough to chill, but it is worth waiting for!
Substitutions and Variations
We love switching things up when we're in the kitchen. Try any of these variations for something a little different.
- Cream Cheese Frosting - use cream cheese frosting for the cookies instead of buttercream. We recommend this cream cheese frosting that tops our pumpkin bars.
- Icing- these cookies are also delicious iced instead of frosted! Check out our Fall Maple Cookies for the icing recipe and decorating tips to go with the icing. When using the recipe, swap the maple extract for vanilla extract.
- Cookie Cutters - use champagne bottle, numbers to represent the year, or firework shaped cookie cutters for the New Year.
- Peppermint - swap the vanilla extract for peppermint extract for a fun variation in the frosting.
- Fruity - add 1-2 teaspoons of your favorite fruit extract in the frosting as a yummy way to switch it up. You could try orange, lemon, strawberry, cherry and more!
- Fruit Pizza - make the cookies as normal then make them into mini fruit pizzas. Check out our 4th of July Cookies for the topping recipe and more instructions.
Storing New Year's Eve Cookies
Store the dough in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Baked cookies can be frozen and stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Top tips
For soft and chewy cookies, do not over bake! The cookies are done when the edges are set and the tops are matte. Do not wait for them to turn lightly golden, or they will be crunchy.
Make sure to beat the butter and sugar together thoroughly. This will create the best possible texture for your cookies.
Chill the cookie dough completely! This will make the dough easier to work with and give the cookies the proper texture.
Recipe
New Years Eve Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cookie:
- ½ cup unsalted butter slightly softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs large
- 1 ½ teaspooons vanilla pure vanilla extract
- 2 ⅔ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt *if using salted butter, reduce salt to ¾ teaspoon!
For the Frosting
- 1 cup salted butter
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-2 Tablespooons milk *optional, add til desired consistency is reached.
For the Black Frosting
- ½ cup black cocoa *Remove half the frosting and place in another bowl. Add ½ cup black cocoa and 1-2 Tablespoons milk until the desired consistency is reached.
Instructions
- Beat slightly softened butter and sugar on high for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat one more minute. Add dry ingredients and mix on low just until combined. Chill in the refrigerator 90+ minutes. See photos above for a visual guide.
- Preheat oven to 400*F. Lightly flour a surface by sprinkling a small amount of flour on a work surface. Roll out the dough ¼"-⅜" thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out circles (or other desired shapes) Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 6-9 minutes, until tops are matte and edges are set.
- While the cookies are cooling make the frosting by beating the butter on high for 2 minutes until lightened in color. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. If your powdered sugar is lumpy, sift before adding. Add in the vanilla and mix until combined. Frost cooled cookies and decorate before frosting has set.
- To make black frosting, remove half the frosting and place in another bowl. Add ½ cup black cocoa powder (tastes like OREOs!) and 1-2 Tablespoons milk until desired consistency is achieved. Black cocoa will make them very dark brown, close to black. For a true black, feel free to add a touch of black food coloring.
- New Year's Eve colors are gold, black and white. Secondary colors are silver, purple and bright blue. Have fun decorating!
Nicole says
These New Year's Eve Cookies were cute and fun to make! They are the perfect thick and chewy texture and were super easy. Can't wait to make them again for our New Years party!