SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE AND ICING (10 DECORATING STYLES TO COME)
Happy Monday! I hope your December is merry and bright! We’ve had our first snow this weekend (here) and it’s the perfect backdrop for decking our halls, baking, making and …. partaking! Are you doing the same? In Sweden, this week brings the Nobel Dinner (here), Lucia (here) and general Christmas hustle and bustle!
business — just finding the time — but, I want the kids to have the same memories. I return to this sugar cookie recipe that always works. In addition to making great tasting, easy to roll out cookies, these cookies only need to be chilled for 30 minutes, but, are also OK if well chilled over night. Rather than making a large variety of Christmas Cookies I really enjoy finding new ways of decorating — in fact, I’ve counted and we have at least 10 different ways we decorate! This past weekend, we’ve decorated our first double batch and will bring 10 styles for you* over the next weeks. I can’t wait and hope it’s fun for you, too!
2 C Flour (272 g)
1/4 t. Salt
1/2 t Baking Powder
1/2 Lb butter (114 g)
1 cup sugar (201 g)
1 egg
2 T cognac (optional)
1/2 t Vanilla Extract
Sift all together dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar until light: add egg, cognac (optional), vanilla and beat well. Add dry ingredients, a little at a time, and mix until well blended. Wrap and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
Preheat thr oven to 400F. Roll to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Bake approximaxtely 10 minutes. Do not allow to brown. Cool and decorate.
Icing Recipe #1: Butter Cream Icing:1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (113 g)
6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar (750 g – 1,000 g)
1/2 cup milk (120 ml)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter, 4 cups sugar, milk, and vanilla and beat at medium. This will take about 3 – 5 minutes. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
Candy Cane Toppers
Sugar Cookie #2: Stained Glass Cookie
2-in-1 Chocolate Chip Cookie
Pumpkin Muffins 5 ways
5 Ways to Decorate Christmas Cookies (not pictured)