The Best Christmas Cookies! {Getting Ready for the Holidays!}

Christmas cookies have long been a part of our family holiday traditions. And I believe that the sugar cookie is the quintessential perfect Christmas cookie. Especially when it is topped with a fluffy yummy-tasting frosting and a few sprinkles. But for years I did not have a sugar cookie recipe that I loved…. until one day when I received my order of beautiful copper cookie cutters from www.coppergifts.com, and in the shipment they included a recipe for sugar cookies. After trying it once, I was convinced- this is simply the best sugar cookie recipe EVER!

“Big Batch” Sugar Cookies (courtesy of Copper Gifts)

2 cups butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. Mix well. Chill in large pancake shapes wrapped in parchment or waxed paper for 1 to 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees before baking cookies. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats to prevent cookies from spreading. On surface dusted with powdered sugar, roll dough to approx 1/8″ thick. Use cookie cutters dipped in powdered sugar to cut dough into shapes. Bake on baking sheet at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes until just beginning to turn brown around the edges. This recipe can make up to 5 dozen 4-6″ cookies.

Frosting

1 cup solid white vegetable shortening (Crisco)

1/2 teaspoon of Wilton clear vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon of Wilton butter flavoring

1/4 teaspoon of Wilton almond extract

2 Tablespoons of milk

1-lb. confectioner’s sugar

1 Tablespoon Wilton meringue powder

Cream shortening, flavorings, and milk. Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together. Blend an additional minute or so, until creamy. (You can add more milk, one tablespoon at a time to thin the frosting a bit if you intend to use a decorating bag).

Recruit Some Decorating Assistants!

To tell the truth- after making the dough, rolling it out, cutting out the shapes, baking it, and then preparing the frosting… I am ready for a nap. So I turn the sugar cookie decorating over to my husband and the kids!

Are you making any homemade cookies or desserts this holiday season? I would love to hear about it! Please leave a comment here below, or link up if you’ve decided to join me for our Getting Ready for the Holidays “Blog Party”!