• Christmas Baking

Christmas is a few days away and one of the things that I like to do with my kids is bake cookies. I do bake more than cookies, but nothing says Christmas like a cut out sugar cookie. Getting the kids involved while they are young is great because it helps you and it instills some responsibility in them. Pick the tasks that fit their age; for instance, younger children can help with cookie cutting while older children can help with actually making the dough. My son who is 10 is more inclined to help me then my daughter who is 20, but they are also different personalities. I normally get frustrated by the end of baking the cookies because normally decorating them comes next, but this year I decided to bake all of the cookies one day and have a frosting party the next day. It worked out well and I started a new tradition. I have included both the sugar cookie and frosting recipe. Happy Holidays everyone!!

Recipe

SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE
INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter (2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 3 cups all purpose flour
Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Powdered sugar
Cookie Cutters

DIRECTIONS

1. Add butter and sugar to your mixing bowl (stand or hand mixer recommended) cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy

2. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined.

3. Add flour and mix until dough is smooth

4. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for one hour or overnight.

5. Preheat oven to 375. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

6. Remove half of the chilled dough; sprinkle some powdered sugar on the surface where you will roll dough. To make sure dough does not stick to surface or rolling pin you can add some powdered sugar to dough itself.

7. Cut the desired shapes using cookie cutters and place on baking sheet.

8. Bake the cookies 10-11 minutes or until the edges start to brown. Remove and place on rack to cool.

Recipe

SUGAR COOKIE ICING RECIPE
6 cups powdered sugar 1/4 – 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract Food coloring

1. Add powdered sugar and 1/4 cup milk to mixing bowl (stand or hand mixer recommended)

2. Mix until smooth. Add additional milk if needed.

3. Add corn syrup and vanilla

4. Once the icing is complete separate into small bowls. Add food coloring to each bowl until you get desired color.

5. The icing will thin out a little based on the amount of food coloring you use. But you can still frost the cookies fine you might just need a little less on the cookie.

6. After frosting and decorating the cookies place on a rack or parchment paper to dry. It normally dries within an hour but it’s best to let them dry overnight.

About the Author: Liz Phillips is a married mother of two. Liz has lived in the Elk Grove area for over 25 years. Cooking and entertaining is a fun passion that she likes to share with others.