Christmas Cookies

one of my fave christmas traditions is making christmas cookies. i typically make about 4 different kinds and almost every year it's the same ones. occasionally i try a new recipe, but sometimes you just gotta go with what you know you already love, right?

 

so last week my daughter asked if we could make some sugar cookie cutouts on the weekend and i was happy to oblige as these are always a favorite.

 

the girls are fantastic helpers, the love to roll out the dough, cut out the cookies and then decorate once they're cooled.

 

 

we actually waited to decorate them until the following day so the cookies could cool and so we'd have more time. they had a blast using all the colored frostings and colored sugars!

 

i've got a few more kinds to make over the coming weeks ... and just so i don't personally scarf them ALL down, i usually freeze most of them until we want to use them. i usually use christmas cookies to give to some of our neighbors or bring to any christmas parties we attend over the course of the month ... and of course i have some myself with a nice cup of tea in the evening!

 

if anyone is interested, here is my sugar cookie recipe:

 

cream with a mixer 3 eggs, 2 softened sticks of butter and 1 cup of sugar.

add 1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt,

slowly mix in 3 & 1/2 cups flour.

 

chill dough in fridge for one hour.

 

using a 1/4 of the dough at a time roll it out onto a floured surface - i usually flour the counter top, the rolling pin and sometimes even my hands so it won't be too sticky. my number one key to success with these cookies is to roll them a little on the thick side - i don't like crispy, burnt cookies, so i keep them a little thick and they always turn out fabulous.

 

bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 min

 

the frosting i like to make is:

 

1 stick butter, softened

1 whole bag confectioners sugar

1 tsp almond extract {almond is my fave}

and add a little milk as you go until it reaches the desired consistency

 

sometimes you have to alternate pouring in the sugar and the milk so it doesn't get all chunky.

 

after the cookies have set out for a bit i am usually able to put them in containers in the fridge or freezer and they taste just fine once thawed.

 

and here's a fun little treat for you to enjoy now: