One of our favorite traditions on the ranch as a family is to make Christmas cookies together. With busy teenagers & schedules, we take the time to schedule it on the calendar so everyone knows when we are going to gather. We pull out all our Christmas cookie cutters and talk about the Christmas story as we roll out the dough & shapes. We use this delicious sugar cookie recipe I want to share with you. The almond extract in the frosting is the best! And of course sprinkles & decorations are a must!
Dough Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Hilltop salt blend
1 cup butter (2 sticks at room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder & salt, and set aside
3. In an electric mixer cream together about 2-3 min the butter & sugar until light & fluffy.
4. Add the egg & vanilla and beat for 1 min
5. Add the flour mixture until blended. Keep mixing until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
6. Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead & add more flour until it's not sticky
7. Cut out cookies into desired shape.
8. Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes. The cookies are baked when they are no longer shiny on top.
9. Cool on rack. Frost when completely cooled.
Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
8 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Whip together butter, extracts & cream. Add sugar 1 cup at a time. Mix until creamy. (Add more milk to thin or more sugar to thicken). We divide the frosting into separate bowls to add different color food coloring.
