Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Food

SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the egg and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside.
• With a hand held mixer in a large bowl, cream the butter until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, add both sugars, and continue beating until light, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl again, if needed, then add the egg mixture, beating for about 1 minute. Sift the salt with the flour. Reduce the mixer to a low speed and then add the flour mixture, mixing just until blended.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl. Divide the dough in half and place each half between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment or waxed paper. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a disk about 1/4-inch thick. Slide the dough/parchment sheet onto a flat cookie sheet, or on the back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.
• Evenly space the racks in the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Place 1 disk of the cookie dough on a clean work surface and peel off the top sheet of paper. Cut cookies with a 1 1/2-inch round or a decorative shaped cookie cutter directly on the parchment. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined or non-stick baking sheet, spacing them about 1-inch apart. Repeat with other sheet of dough. Any excess dough can be re-rolled, refrigerated, and cut.
• Bake until the edges of the cookies are a light golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.
• For decorating: Whisk the confectioners' sugar with just enough milk to make a thick icing. Transfer icing to a small plastic bag. Press the icing into a corner of the bag and snip off the corner with scissors to make a small opening. Gently press the icing onto the cookie to make a simple pattern. Decorate as desired. Set aside for about 1 hour to let the icing harden.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
• Walnut Orange Variation: Add 3/4 teaspoon grated zest of orange with the sugar, and 2/3 cup finely chopped walnuts with the flour.
• Pecan-Cinnamon Variation: Mix 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon with the flour, and add 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans with the flour. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies before baking with a mixture of 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
• Almond Variation: Reduce the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon and add 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract. Add 3/4 cup chopped toasted sliced almonds to the dough with the flour. If desired, for decoration, brush the tops of the unbaked cookies with some egg white and press a few un-toasted almond slices onto the top of each cookie prior to baking.

SOFT CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Beat together the shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with mixer.
• 2. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
• 3. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk (a little at a time) to the creamed sugar mixture until completely mixed. The dough will be fairly sticky.
• 4. Generously flour board. Scoop out smaller portions of dough.
• 5. Pat out with your hand to 1/4"-1/2" thickness.
• 6. Flour cookie cutter, cut and place on ungreased cookie sheet. (I use a round jelly glass to cut out the cookies).
• 7. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Do not over bake. Let cool a couple of minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
• 8. NOTE: You can decorate with colored sugars or sprinkles or even place a nut or raisin in the center of the cookie before baking or frost after cooling.

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Beat in the sour cream, honey and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and chill for 2 hours or until easy to handle. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured 3-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 325° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. , In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white coating; stir until smooth. Stir in food coloring; drizzle over cookies.