40 Make Ahead Christmas Cookies Food

CHRISTMAS COOKIES (SUGAR COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Add butter to the bowl of your stand mixer and cream on medium-high for 1-2 minutes, or until butter is smooth and lighter in color.
• With the mixer on low, slowly add the sugar and then the egg.
• Scrape the bowl with the mixer off.
• Turn mixer back on low and add in extracts.
• Allow all ingredients to combine fully.
• Add the baking powder and then the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until fully incorporated.
• Remove bowl from mixer and drop dough onto a floured countertop. Roll out into a flat disc, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Cutout cookies into Christmas inspired shapes and bake at 350°F for 6-9 minutes.
• Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.
• Frost with buttercream or glaze icing.

SPARKLING VANILLA CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• Tip the icing sugar, vanilla extract, egg yolk and butter into a mixing bowl, then stir together with a wooden spoon (or pulse in a food processor until well combined). Add the flour and mix to a firm dough. Shape the dough into two flat discs and wrap them. Chill for 20-30 mins. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and line two baking sheets with non-stick baking paper.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about the thickness of two £1 coins. Cut out Christmassy shapes (use a cutter if you like) and place on the baking sheets. Using the tip of a skewer, cut a small hole in the top of each cookie. Bake for 10-12 mins until lightly golden.
• Lift the biscuits onto a wire rack to cool. Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with a few drops of cold water to make a thick, but still runny icing. Colour with edible food colouring, if you like. Spread it over the cooled biscuits, decorate with edible balls and thread with ribbon when dry.