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.

Fruit Cookies

My mother in law was the first to introduce me to the fruit pizza. She basically made one big one, instead of individuals, which she would cup up like pizza slices.
I decided to make this treat a couple weeks ago as a treat to bring into my office. So heres the SIMPLE recipe:

Ingredients: Cookie dough, can be homemade, frozen, however you like it. Due to time constraints I bought a tube of Pillsbury cookie dough.
Cream Cheese, I used strawberry cream cheese, again preference.
Strawberries, Blueberries, and Kiwis.

Cut the cookie dough in slices. I put them into cup cake holders in a cup cake pan.
Cook the cookies as directed.
Once cooled, frost with the cream cheese.
Decorate with fruit and Enjoy!