christmas-11One of our favorite Christmas traditions is to take a night during December to bake and decorate Christmas cookies. Having a good dough recipe is important, but to be honest, having a variety of icings and “sprinkles” is what makes it festive and fun. There is something heart-warming about sitting around the table together with a pile of cookies to be iced and decorated and everyone creating their own masterpiece.

Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups butter
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 eggs
5 cups flour, sifted
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp cream of tartar

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar in a mixer and add vanilla and almond extract. Add eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients into the mixer. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop dough onto cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 9 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.

Frosting

Ingredients:

3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter
Vanilla (if you like it in frosting)
Approximately 2 Tablespoons milk; add slowly so that you can keep the right consistency
Sprinkles for decorating

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar in a mixer and add vanilla.