Christmas Cookies

First I had to wash up my cookie cutters.

I first mixed my dry ingredients of 1 and 1/2 cups of powdered sugar,2 and 1/2 cups of flour,1 tsp cream of tartar and 1 tsp baking soda.I mix it up good by spoon.Then I mixed up 1 cup butter,softened,and 1 egg,1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp almond flavoring.Use a big bowl and I mixed the dry and wet ingredients together by hand,the flour will go everywhere like a fine dust,but when I do it by hand it goes well.Then I put the dough in a baggy in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours,I just do two hours.While I'm waiting I make the frosting,recipe on powdered sugar box.I make mine thicker for cookies.Preheat oven 350 degrees.

I separate the dough in four pieces,roll out one section at a time as the butter gets softer and cookie cutters will get more stuck,so while rolling a section.Put the other in the refrigerator.Roll it out thin enough for cookies,the thicker it is the bigger the cookie,too thin and the cookies will be hard,after one baking pan done,you'll get the feel of how thin or thick you want the cookies.You can try a small amount first to see how thick you want the rest.I separate the cookies about an inch and a half apart.

I just add the dough around cookie cutter pieces back into the dough.After you have enough for a pan full,put dough back in frig.Bake 6 to 8 minutes,just until edges get a little brown.

I really need a new pan,but you get used to the ones you've used for so long,but for looks sake,a new one would be nice. :)Frost and decorate when cool.I used to make my own colored sugar with food coloring and sugar,then it had to dry,so I made it the next day and didn't put it back into baggies till it was completely dry.You can also food color your frosting.This year we used cake decorating icing trim and Christmas sprinkles on white frosting. Frost when cool,which doesn't take long at all with these cookies.

Powdered Sugar Cookies

1 and 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
2 and 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar

1 cup softened butter,let butter sit out till softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavoring,(if you don't have any,just use vanilla flavoring)


We put the dough in the frig for a couple of hours covered, then roll them out to use the cut outs. Preheat oven, cook for 8 to 10 minutes on 350.  
 
Powdered Sugar Frosting

Recipe on box,but I use about a box,one stick of butter,1 tsp vanilla and enough milk to make it your thickness,maybe a few tablespoons,but recipe will tell you and you can work it to your taste.Just remember a little milk at a time,I've ran out of powdered sugar and had put too much milk,eek!Yep,these cookies take time,but kids love making them and will remember decorating cookies at Christmas,so it's really worth it.