Christmas Cookies – Snowflake Cutouts

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Today was our first “snow day”!  School was closed and all my daycare children spent the day at home with their moms.  With Christmas only 16 days away, I wondered how best to spend this precious day off.  Write Christmas cards?  Wrap gifts?  Decorate the tree?  All VIP, but not nearly as important as baking Christmas cookies!  Cut-out cookies are time-consuming, but I just love the way a pretty snowflake glistens on the tray.

From: http://bigalittlea.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/christmas-cookies-snowflake-cutouts/

French Butter Cookies Recipe

Dana’s Notes: An interesting recipe that uses vegetable oil. A reliable blog source, though I’ve not used this recipe as a cut-out cookie recipe. I’m sure it would work just as well as the second cut-out cookie recipe that follows. Though, if you want a sure thing, use the second one. I am not certain of the consistency of this one.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter, 1/2 c. vegetable oil, 1 ½ c. sifted powdered sugar, 1 egg, 2 c. flour, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp.

baking soda, 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Directions:

Cream butter, oil, sugar, and egg. Beat until thick and creamy. Add dry ingredients. Chill for 2 hours or overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

NOTE: I put chopped pecans in mine.

Recipe Source: http://www.karolskitchen.com/ethnic/french-butter-cookies-recipe-2/

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

Dana’s Notes: From a very reliable recipe blogger whom has also been published.

1-½ cup Butter, 2 cups Sugar, 4 whole Eggs, 1 teaspoon Vanilla, 5 cups Flour, 2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

FOR COOKIE ICING:

Confectioner's Sugar, Vanilla, Milk, Food Coloring

Preparation Instructions:

1. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.

2. In large bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.

3. Pour cream mixture into flour mixture and mix well.

4. Chill for at least 2 hours.

5. Roll out at least 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes with cookie cutters.

6. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 400 until golden brown.

7. Ice, decorate and enjoy.

For sugar cookie icing:

(Sorry, I don’t measure the icing ingredients out. I just make it.)

1. Pour powdered sugar into a bowl.

2. Add milk, pouring small amounts in at a time, stirring after each addition..

3. Once it is the thickness you want, add a few drops of food color and a splash of vanilla.

TIP: To get the perfectly iced cookie like the ones above, take the cookie and place it in the icing face down. Then pick it up, using a spoon to remove some of the extra icing.

Recipe Source: http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/cut-out-sugar-cookies/