CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

I make these cookies every year at Christmas; they are my husband's all-time favorite. It always amazes me how I will spend hours upon hours decorating them and he spends minutes eating them! Another thing I love about this recipe is I get to use some of my Grandma's old cookie cutters. She was amazing in the kitchen and every time I pull them out I think about her and how much I wish I could still bake with her. My favorite cookie cutters from her are the hen and the skinny Christmas tree.


Christmas Sugar Cookies
Makes 3 dozen medium size cutout cookies

Cookie Dough:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Frosting:
powdered sugar
almond extract (almond is the best but vanilla or lemon work too)
heavy whipping cream

Make Dough:
Cream butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes. Stir in the eggs, vanilla and almond. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture into the butter mixture on low stirring seed, alternating with the heavy whipping cream, about 3 times. Divide the dough into two balls and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. (I am honestly too impatient for that and I usually throw the wrapped dough in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until it is chilled.)

Roll out and Bake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Flour a smooth surface and roll out the dough to desired thickness. They will rise a little when baked but not much. I usually roll about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes. Bake for about 8 minutes for a medium size cutout. Transfer to a cooling rack and decorate when cooled.

Make Frosting:
The measurements are always different. I usually start with 1/2 bag powdered sugar and add about 7 Tablespoons of heavy cream and 1 Tablespoon of almond extract and whisk until desired thickness is achieved. Add more cream if it is too thick or add more sugar if it is too thin. Add food coloring if desired. Frost cookies and decorate...in my house that means a lot of sprinkles and red hots.


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