Christmas
Sugar Cookies
What would Christmas be without sugar cookies?
If you are looking for something new to make this year,
try these scrumptious renditions of this tried and true
holiday favorite.
Candy Cane Sugar Twist Cookies
Basic Cookie Dough
1 cup of butter, softened
1 cup of confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1 tsp of vanilla
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2 1/2 cups of sifted flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
2 tbsp of red food coloring
Directions: Beat the butter and sugar together until
light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extract.
Set aside. Mix the flour salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar
together. Stir into the butter mixture. Divide the dough in
half and add the red food coloring to half the dough. Refrigerate
dough for one hour.
Take one teaspoon of each color of dough and roll out into
4 inch long strips. Lay the strips side by side and twist
together to make a red and white striped rope. Place the dough
on an ungreased cookie sheet. Turn the end into a curve to
make the canes handle. Repeat this procedure to make 12 canes.
Place 1 inch apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Place one inch apart on baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees
for 10 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then
transfer to a rack to cool completely.
VARIATIONS
White Chocolate and Candy Cane Cookies
Candy Cane Topping
1/2 cup crushed red and white peppermint candy
2 tbsp red colored sugar
Directions: Crush the peppermint candy in a heavy
plastic bag with a hammer or rolling pin. Mix in the red colored
sugar.
White Chocolate Coating
1 cup of Nestle white morsels
Directions: Melt the morsels in a microwave safe container,
uncovered, on medium high (70%) for 1 minute. Stir and microwave
at additional 10 to 20 second intervals, stirring in until
smooth.
Cookie Directions
Make one batch of the basic dough from above.
Roll dough into one inch balls and place 2 inches apart on
a cookie sheet. Flatten by pressing with the bottom of a drinking
glass coated with sugar. Dip the glass in the sugar for each
cookie.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to
a rack to cool completely.
Dip each cookie half way in the warmed white chocolate then
sprinkle with the red sugar and peppermint mixture.
Chocolate Kiss Cookies
Make one batch of the basic dough from above but substitute
the peppermint extract with 1/2 tsp of almond extract.
Roll dough into one inch balls and place 2 inches apart on
a cookie sheet.
Flatten by pressing with the bottom of a drinking glass coated
with sugar. Dip the glass in the sugar for each cookie.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Upon removing the cookies
from the oven, immediately put one large Hershey Kiss in the
middle of the cookie.
Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to
a rack to cool completely.
You might also like these chocolate reindeer / moose cookies.
Peppermint Coated Sugar Cookies
Make one batch of the basic dough from above but substitute
the almond flavoring with 1/2 tsp of the peppermint flavoring.
Roll dough into one inch balls and place 2 inches apart on
a cookie sheet. Flatten by pressing with the bottom of a drinking
glass coated with sugar. Dip the glass in the sugar for each
cookie.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to
a rack to cool completely.
Peppermint Glaze
3 cups of confectioner's sugar
2 to 3 tbsp of water
1/4 tsp of red food coloring
1/4 tsp peppermint flavoring
Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. The glaze
should be thin enough to pour from a spoon. Add a few drops
of water and beat again if it gets too thick while using. Makes about one cup of glaze.
Candy Cane Topping
1/2 cup crushed red and white peppermint candy
2 tbsp red colored sugar
To glaze, arrange the cookies on a piece of wax paper one
inch apart. Spoon the glaze over each cookie. Let dry completely.
Spoon another coat over the cookies. Sprinkle with the red
sugar peppermint mixture. Let dry completely again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Martha
Matthews is the Editor of Christian-Homemaking.com,
a web site with resources dedicated to Christian homemaking.
She also has a free monthly newsletter for Christian wives
called The Wives of Excellence Newsletter. Visit http://www.christian-homemaking.com
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