Monday, December 3, 2012

The Best Christmas Cutout Cookies

via Coastal Living
Cute coastal cutouts. Get the how-to here.

Everyone that really knows me, knows I have a terrible sweet tooth. I work really hard at trying to fend off cookies and cakes. I am swept in by the mere sight of a delicious cupcake. I am not a candy or soda gal, so I’ve got that going for me. Christmas is a time for baking. My favorites are the cutouts. I shop all year for great cookie cutters and look forward to showcasing my latest finds each holiday. Last year, I found a great lobster cookie cutter while we were in Maine. Who doesn’t love a Christmas lobster cookie? Get your own lobster here.


The sugar cookie receipie I follow is one of the best. It is dense, yet buttery and soft.  The cookies hold together for decorating and if you follow with my icing recipie, you won’t be disappointed!
This receipe originally appeared in the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, NY Cookbook.


Sugar Cookie Recipe:

2c. Salted Butter, softened  
1c. sugar
1 egg, beaten  
4c. Flour
1tsp. good vanilla

In a blender fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar. Add egg to butter and sugar mixture, slowly add flour until combined, then add the vanilla at the end. Refrigerate dough 2-3 hours or overnight. I like to refrigerate in small sections, that way when the dough gets soft again, I can return it to the refrigerator and pull out chilled dough.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Flour surface, roll out dough. Make cut-outs and place on baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes or just until the edges are slightly browned. Do not over bake!

Icing:

2c. Confectioners Sugar          

2tbs of softened butter ( unsalted)

1tsp. of good vanilla          

heavy cream

Mix sugar, butter and vanilla together. Slowly add heavy cream until combined. The mixture should be about the consistancy of maple syrup.

Prepare the icing and set aside. Gather 4-5 bowls that are wide enough that you could dip a cookie into. Spoon out the white icing into the bowls and add food coloring to make desired colors. I usually stick with red, green and white as my icing colors.  I typically dip the entire cookie in one color, then decorate with dragers and colored sugar crystals. I am a purist. I don’t love a lot of gloppy icing and sprinkles on my cookies. 

Set them on wax paper to allow the frosting to cure, about 30 mins. Once they are set, transfer them to a sealed container and stack cookies between sheets of parchment paper. They make great gifts. I love to give bags of cookies to neighbors and guests. Check out some of my favorite decorating ideas:



Ornaments and snowflakes.
via Google

Simple stars.
via Martha Stewart

You'd have to be a freaking pastry chef to pull
these off but it's super cute.
via Martha Stewart

My favorite. Simple, classic Christmas cutouts.
via Google

More costal cookie ideas.
via Coastal Living

Color the doughs if you're not an icing fan.
via Martha Stewart



For more cookie inspiration, follow me on Pinterest!

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