Christmas Sugar Cookies

At a cookie swap last weekend, I had a delicious, yet simple cookie that I couldn't get out of my mind. It was a sugar cookie with white icing and candy cane crumbles on top. I had to have it again. So I decided to make my own.

I decided to try out a new sugar cookie recipe I found on Pinterest from In Katrina's Kitchen.

Here is the recipe:

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

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YIELD: 3 dozen large cookies

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 6-8 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 38 minutes

Soft cut out sugar cookie recipe that keeps its shape and dough does not need to be chilled before baking- perfect edges every time!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups of butter, softened
• 2 cups of granulated white sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of almond extract
• 2 eggs
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 6 cups all purpose flour

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In the bowl of your mixer cream butter and sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in extracts and eggs.
4. In a separate bowl combine baking powder with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a countertop surface. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.
5. DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8).
6. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

NOTES:

• If you must chill the dough just leave it on the countertop for 10 minutes before rolling or work the dough with your hands for a few minutes.
• I hesitate to put a recipe yield on cut out cookie recipes because the yield varies with the size of cookie cutters being used. This recipe makes a LARGE amount of dough. It can easily be halved to meet your needs.
• You can omit the almond extract if you do not have it available, however the taste is really fantastic with the hint of almond.

Original recipe and images © In Katrina's Kitchen 

Go check out her website- she has some delicious recipes!!

I only made half a batch, which I'm glad I did, because it made two cookie sheets full of cookies!

I let them dry on the counter for a bit while I whipped up some homemade icing. I found this recipe from WomenLivingWell.org . Another Pinterest find. I only had two cups of powdered sugar, so I did 1/3 of the recipe. I had to add a little more milk though and used a little more butter since I had already melted. It turned out perfect and I had more than enough.

Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbsp butter (softened) - I melted in the microwave for 20 seconds.

2-3 Tbsp (appx) of milk or until desired consistency

1/3 tsp vanilla

Beat all ingredients well until smooth and creamy.

The cooked were delicious and exactly what I was imagining! I also set one aside and set up a little station for Sadie to decorate a cookie. I think more ended up in her mouth than on the cookie.