Xiaodianxin – Eggless Chinese Butter Cookies

Eggless Chinese Butter Cookies bring rich creamy flavor without eggs! These buttery, crumbly confections are ideal for holidays, Christmas, or everyday snacking. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, they’re quick to whip up. These cookies without eggs are a must-try for the season, perfect for gifting or enjoying with tea.

Cookie recipes are popular year-round but especially during the holidays, and this Chinese Cookie is a favorite in our house. In Chinese, the word for cookies is Xianodianxin, which sounds kinda exotic. These eggless butter cookies are so light, and festive with colorful sprinkles and would be perfect for dessert platters.

Xiaodianxin are so soft, that they practically melt in your mouth! They’re also super simple and delicious. And the best part? They’re eggless, so everyone can enjoy them, no matter what their dietary needs are. We love them just as much as these whipped shortbread. This is definitely a sweet treat to make for any of your holiday baking needs.

Eggless Chinese Butter Cookies

Chinese butter cookies are small, round pastries with a creamy flavor. They are typically made with just a few simple ingredients, allowing the flavor of the butter to shine. In this version, I used vanilla coffee creamer for the binding agent and they remained light and airy without compromising taste.

The sweet treats can be pressed onto a baking sheet using a cookie press or a few other ways. Despite mine breaking while creating this recipe, I was able to use alternate methods to make the treats.

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Do You Need a Cookie Press to Make Butter Cookies?

As I discovered, no you do not need one to make these. It’s nice if you do because they offer many different shaped discs. Here are alternate methods to use:

• A simple piping bag with tips works well. That is what I used.
• You can also press the dough out and use mini holiday cookie cutters.
• Roll small balls of dough and press the rounds lightly with a fork.

Whichever method you use, don’t forget to add festive sprinkles or coarse sugar to the tops before baking. As a side note to using a cookie press, if you find the dough is too thick, add a teaspoon at a time of more liquid, up to a tablespoon more. Coffee creamer is thicker than milk would be.

Timesaving Tips and Variations

• Substitute the vanilla creamer for milk or any plant-based milk.
• If you find the dough is too thick, add a teaspoon at a time more liquid, up to a tablespoon more. Coffee creamer is thicker than milk would be.
• I used unsalted butter but feel free to use salted. No other changes are needed.
• No need to chill this dough, however, you can refrigerate or freeze it. Bring to room temperature before using.
• For a fun twist, add a spoonful of matcha green tea powder to the dough! This green tea powder adds a subtle earthy flavor and a cool green color. They’ll look as good as they taste.
• Add mini chocolate chips to the dough before baking.
• A little lemon zest or orange zest would be lovely to add.
• For the holidays you can even use a small amount of cinnamon for a warm spiced bite.
• Finely chopped nuts are a great addition.

Pack them in a cute tin, and they double as sweet, thoughtful gifts that everyone will love.

Why is Cornstarch in this Recipe for this Butter Cookie?

Cornstarch in this recipe will keep the cookies tender and add a crunchy yet crumbly texture. They seem to stay fresher longer, too.

How do you know when Eggless Butter Cookies are Done?

They will not change in color too much but the bottoms will be lightly golden brown. I check for doneness at the minimum time required and if they need another minute or two I put them back in the oven.

More Eggless Cookie Recipes

Enjoy these other sweet bites that are made without eggs.

• Whipped Shortbread
• Hazelnut Shortbread with Nutella Filling
• Sugar Plum Thumbprints
• Cherry Surprises
• Raspberry Shortbread

💡Explore my favorite Baking Essentials (Amazon affiliate link)

Recommended Tools for Eggless Chinese Butter Cookies

The tools that I suggest to use are listed below and I’ve linked to a few of my favorite gadgets.

• medium mixing bowl
• electric handheld mixer
• rubber spatula
• measuring cups and spoons
• baking sheet
• silicone baking mat or parchment paper
• cookie press (or piping bags with tips)
• fun sprinkles
• wire cooling rack

With these items in hand, you will be ready to bake and then enjoy the goodies.

Ingredients

The list of ingredients a simple enough and easily found. You can use milk in place of the creamer with the same delicious results.

• unsalted butter
• powdered sugar
• flour (I use King Arthur All Purpose Flour)
• cornstarch
• vanilla coffee creamer (affiliate link)

How to Make Eggless Butter Cookies

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl mix the butter and powdered sugar until light and creamy. Add, the flour and cornstarch and mix again. The mixture may be a bit crumbly. This is normal. Next, add the vanilla creamer and combine with the flour mixture. Form it into a smooth and thick dough.

Using a cookie press, or a piping bag, pipe your shapes onto a baking pan, leaving a bit of space between each. If you want to add sprinkles, this is the time.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 – 25 minutes, checking at the 20-minute mark for doneness. They are lightly brown on the bottom when done. Remove from the oven and place on a wire cooling rack. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Freeze for longer up to 3 months.

These melt-in-your-mouth bites look pretty on a cute platter, but they’re just as delicious to eat straight from the baking sheet. Pair them with a warm cup of tea or coffee, and you’ve got the perfect balance of flavors.

With just 5 ingredients, you can whip up tasty treats that are perfect for sharing – or not. Grab your ingredients, print the directions out, and get baking!

Printable Recipe Card

2024 Alphabet Challenge – “X”

In creating this post, I am sharing it in the 2024 Alphabet Challenge in which fellow foodies will share recipes with the letters of the alphabet. Every other week, we spotlight a letter and the culinary wonders it inspires. Today, we tackle the tricky “X,” and I’ve uncovered a festive recipe that’s sure to satisfy.Here is what the others are sharing. To see all the recipes I have shared in this challenge, go here.

• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Brothless Ramen with XO Sauce 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Chicken Xacuti 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni:Mushroom Xacuti 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: X’s & O’s (Hugs & Kisses) Brown Sugar Cookies
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Xavier Soup 
• Food Lust People Love: Xmas Eggnog Fudge 
• Culinary Cam: Xoconostle Tartlets 
• Magical Ingredients: Xoconostle Xnipec Paratha 
• A Messy Kitchen: Xoi – Vietnamese Sticky Rice 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Xylocarp Cocktail 

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