Holiday Sugar Cookies

Cookie cut-outs and red + green + white sprinkles = festive holidays.

Sugar cookies dipped in chocolate with red + green + white sprinkles = festive holidays.

It’s that simple.

Adapted from my Icebox Cookie recipe…

1 cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Sprinkles- anything festive

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1. In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar for 3 minutes (until light & fluffy). Beat in egg and vanilla for 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl.
2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk flour, BP and salt together. Stir into butter mixture in two additions.
3. Divide dough into thirds, and wrap into discs in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until firm. FOR CUT-OUTS: roll out into 1/3″ thick rounds. Use a cookie cutter to cut out stars (or any other shape, really), and sprinkle your sprinkles overtop (pressing in lightly to ensure they stick to the cookie instead of your kitchen floor). Chill for at least 20 minutes before baking. FOR COOKIE SLICES: roll dough into logs, chill (wrapped in plastic wrap) and slice into 1/4 or 1/3 inch cookies while very cold.
4. Preheat oven to 375°. Place cookie cut-outs or slices about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, and bake for 10 – 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool for a few minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to cooling racks.
5. FOR CHOCOLATE-COVERED COOKIE SLICES: melt chocolate in microwave for 45 seconds, then stir, and melt in additional 20-second increments as necessary. Spread melted chocolate on cooled cookies, using sprinkles before chocolate sets (if using).
Tips:
- Chilling is really necessary. See in the picture how the stars look a bit blobby around the edges? It’s because I didn’t chill long enough. Not a full-blown recipe for disaster, but I’ve gotta tell ya- I’m not proud.
- Get creative! By all means- skip the sprinkles and use any kind of topping- like chocolate, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, chopped chocolate bars, or whatever you want. Seriously- these taste so good that you can’t really screw them up.
- Happy Ho Ho!
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December 20th, 2012 | More Sweets Please | No Comments | Tags: Cookies