Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes
great as homemade gifts for friends and family lovely to have to hand when guests call around or simply a way to keep the kids busy cookie press butter cookies prep 20 mins cook 8 mins total 28 mins servings 60 servings ingredients 1 2 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature 1 2 cup shortening3 4 cup sugar1 large egg1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract2 1 4 cups all purpose flour1 2 teaspoon baking powder1 4 teaspoon saltoptional almond bark decorative sugar sprinkles steps to make it gather the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl with an electric hand beater cream together the butter shortening and sugar until it turns lighter in color and fluffy approximately doubling in size add the egg and beat well add the almond or vanilla extract and beat again whisk the flour baking powder and salt together in a separate bowl then add it to the butter mixture gradually beating just until each addition becomes fully incorporated divide the dough into oblong chunks sized to fit the cookie press tube following the directions for your brand of a cookie press space the cookies 1 inch apart on an ungreased aluminum cookie sheet bake at 200 c for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the cookies turn light brown on the edges use a spatula to immediately transfer the cookies to a wire rack cool completely decorate the cooled cookies with melted almond bark decorative sugar or colorful sprinkles if desired candy cane cookies prep 20 mins cook 10 mins total 30 mins servings 48 servings ingredients 3 1 2 cups all purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 4 teaspoon salt1 cup 8 ounces butter softened 1 cup granulated sugar1 2 cup milk or light cream1 large egg1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon peppermint extract1 2 teaspoon red food coloring or enough of the desired color optional 2 tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies mixed with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar or red decorating sugar steps to make it gather the ingredients into a mixing bowl measure flour baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl beat the sugar with the butter until blended beat in the milk or cream the egg vanilla and peppermint extract stir in the flour mixture divide the dough into two even portions in a bowl combine one portion with the red food color mix until well blended cover the portions and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours preheat oven to 200 c line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for each candy cane on a lightly floured surface take 1 teaspoonful of plain dough and roll into a 4 inch rope repeat using the tinted dough place the ropes side by side and gently twist together pinch ends lightly to seal and curve one end to form a candy cane shape using a spatula move the cookie to the prepared baking sheet repeat with the remaining dough bake the cookies at 200 c for 9 to 11 minutes or until just lightly browned around edges put the pan on a rack and immediately sprinkle with some of the decorating sugar if using remove to racks with a spatula and let cool completely serve and enjoy sugar cookies prep 25 mins cook 8 mins total 33 mins servings 36 servings ingredients 1 1 2 cups sugar2 3 cup shortening or butter 2 large eggs2 tablespoons milk1 teaspoon vanilla extract3 1 4 cups flour2 1 2 teaspoons baking powder1 2 teaspoon salt steps to make it early in the day or the day before in a large bowl cream the shortening and the sugar add the eggs extract and milk in a medium bowl mix the dry ingredients with a wire whisk add the dry ingredients to the large bowl mix with mixer until well combined with hands shape dough into a ball wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours preheat oven to 200 c lightly grease cookie sheets roll half or 1 3 dough at a time keep the rest refrigerated for crisp cookies roll dough paper thin for softer cookies roll 1 8 to 1 4 thick with a floured cookie cutter cut into shapes re roll trimmings and cut place cookies 1 2 inch apart on cookie sheets decorate bake 8 minutes or until very light brown with pancake turner remove cookies to racks cool makes about 6 dozen cookies