One of my fondest memories of Christmas when I was growing up is sitting around the kitchen counter, me and my sisters on one side, my parents on the other. Towers of homemade cutout cookies, mounds of frosting and piles of sprinkles between us.
I remember wanting the cookies to be perfect. So I’d frost them gently, sometimes even piping around the Christmas trees to give them dimension. Each sprinkle and decoration was handpicked and placed with precision.
That lasted for about 20 minutes. Then I got bored and dumped the sprinkles on the hastily frosted cookies. Which is actually a lot more fun.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. The quickly decorated cookies tasted just as good as the carefully decorated ones. Shhhh…don’t tell anyone.
Over the weekend I pulled out the cookbook my mom made for me a few years ago and found the classic cutout cookie recipe that we used year after year after year. I mixed up the dough while smiling, memories flooding back. The kiddo climbed onto the stool and together we rolled out the dough, cut out the gingerbread men, Christmas trees and stars. We placed them gently onto the waiting cookie sheets and let them get golden and warm in the oven. Bad mommy.
By we, I mean I did the work with the “help” of two chubby hands trying to push the dough back together after we cut it out. It was fun at first, but after about four batches of rolled out dough I found myself saying, I’ll do this part, you can help me with the next, and then not letting him help me with the next part.
All of the cookies turned out great. Even if some of the gingerbread men are oddly shaped. That just gives them character, right? They’ll still taste just as great.
Cut Out Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Wax paper
- Cookie cutters
- Sprinkles
- Frosting {see recipe below}
Preheat oven to 350º.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda and cream of tartar.
In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla or almond extract. Mix until well combined. Slowly add in flour mixture. Form dough into a ball.
On lightly floured wax paper using a well floured rolling pin, roll out about 1/6th of the dough until about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on cookie sheet, about 1/2 inch apart. Continue with remaining dough.
Bake cookies for 7-9 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to lightly brown and centers are set. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Simple Frosting
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla or almond extract
In a small bowl add powdered sugar. Start with about 1/2-1 cup. Slowly add milk and stir to combine. Start with a very small amount of milk and add more as needed. If the frosting gets to runny add more sugar. Add a few drops of extract, to taste.
Frost cookies and decorate. If the frosting starts to thicken, add a little more milk.
Meal Plan
Dinner
Monday: Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup {Mom Advice}
Tuesday: Meatathon 2010 at my friend Jen’s house
Wednesday: Tilapia with pesto quinoa {AllRecipes.com}
Thursday: Butternut Squash Soup with Spinach Ravioli {AllRecipes.com}
Friday: Homemade pizza on beer battered crust and homemade sauce. {AllRecipes.com}
Saturday: Leftover pizza
Sunday: Ribbon pasta with tomato, dill and ricotta
Snacks
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What are your favorite Christmas cookies?
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I have gained five pounds just from reading this series. That is unacceptable.
LOL! Sorry. Except I’m not really sorry.
My Dad’s wife makes cookies with the grand kids every year. It is pure chaos, kids hyped up on sugar, running through the house, but she loves it. I have to miss this year, but Hubby is planning on taking the kids. I am so glad they get to do that with their GG since I am not a baker. (And our oven is currently on the fritz.)
What a great way for GG and the kids to bond. Plus, your house doesn’t end up covered in flour. You both win!
You must be reading my mind! We made cut-out cookies this weekend!
I really need to start baking.
My favorite cookies are Linzer cookies with raspberry jam.
I’ve never made Linzer cookies, but oh have I eaten them.
Who would have thought such great photos could be taken of sugar cookie preparation? I’m impressed!
Thanks Angie!
Nothing says Christmas quite like a frosted and sprinkled sugar cookie!
That’s for sure! Chocolate and mint help too.
So glad you posted this, I’ve been searching for the perfect sugar cookie.
All next week on my blog I am hosting holiday Treats week, Hope you stop by and link up!
Yea! I hope you like them.
Thanks for your tried and true recipe, I’m going to make some:@)
Let me know how they turn out.
This is one of my fondest memories of Christmas as a child. We’d roll ours on the kitchen table and then let our imaginations fly. Thanks for rekindling the memory. Your cookies look and sound delicious. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
Thanks Mary. Don’t you love how this time of year brings back so many memories?
Thank you so much for sharing with Friday Firsts! Your blog is adorable! I absolutely love the chubby hand photo helping with the cookie cutter. It’s beautiful!
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