Christmas Cut-Out Cookies

A friend from church shared her Christmas sugar cookie recipe with me.  They are so delicious that I just had to share this wonderful recipe with others.  

Cut-Out Cookies Recipe

1 cup butter (room temperature)
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg (I substituted with cinnamon once when I had no nutmeg)
3 1/2 cups of sifted flour

Oven 400F (do not preheat oven until you're ready to bake)

Method

1. Cream butter with sugars until light and creamy in a large bowl with a spoon or electric mixer.
2. Beat in eggs one at a time.
3. Stir in vanilla.
4. Gradually sift flour, baking powder, sale and nutmeg into creamed mixture, blending well.  Don't be afraid to get your hands in there to form the dough into a big lump.
5. Chill dough in refrigerator for 1 hour or overnight until firm.
6. Roll out about 1/4 of dough at a time to 1/8 inch thickness on floured surface.
7. Cut with "floured" cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheets.
8. Bake in 400F oven (pre-heated) 8-10 minutes or until firm.
9. Cool completely on wire racks, frost and decorate with sprinkles. 

Icing

1 1/2 cups of icing sugar sifted
1/4 cup butter cold
1 tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla
(optional: a couple of drops of food colouring)

Use a blender or food processor to cut in butter with icing sugar.  Add milk and vanilla, beating until smooth.  You can add a few drops of food colouring.  Decorate to your hearts content!

The kids love making, decorating and eating these cookies. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Printable Recipe:  https://sites.google.com/site/faithfamilyfunfood/christmas-cut-out-cookie-recipe