Christmas Sugar Cookies

With just ten days until Christmas, the countdown has begun! Listening to B101’s nonstop festive music through the day, it really does feel like Christmas is around the corner. So begins the Christmas baking…

Christmas baking and the holiday season come hand in hand. It’s a great way to bond with family and friends, make fantastic edible presents, and an excuse to eat more sugar than normally acceptable. This time of the year, so many online recipe databases (like tastespotting.com) are covered with shades of white, red, and green that it’s hard to resist not trying a few recipes to experiment with.

These Christmas cookies were made with a simple sugar cookie dough, and then decorated with royal icing. In addition to being gracious noms, these cookies also make delectable Christmas tree ornaments. Simply poke a hole in the cookie before putting it in the oven and thread some tinsel or ribbon through. Hang it around the house and on the tree for a shortbread scent without the risk of burning your whole house down.

With the help of my two elves (thanks Jamie and Patty!) all the cookies turned out very festive indeed. If you so desire, you can even act out a scene with these cookies. Be careful though, once you make your food come to life, it’s difficult to let go of them. Especially when you give them names. Not saying I did or anything of course.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year…”

Lalalalaaa

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder

For the royal icing:1 egg white
½ tsp lemon juice
1 ¾ cup confectioners sugar
Food coloring

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

3. Combine the flour and baking powder, then add to creamed mixture and mix well.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut out with Christmas cookie cutters and transfer to lined baking sheets.

5. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire racks. Decorate cookies with royal icing.

For the icing:In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and lemon juice together, adding the powdered sugar until the mixture holds stiff peaks. Divide into bowls and add food coloring as desired.