Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe with Frosting
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour I like King Arthur flour
- 1 tsp baking powder Baking powder acts as leavener, to make the cookies rise.
- ½ tsp salt A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor, but won't make the cookies taste salty.
- 1½ cups white sugar Beaten with margarine or butter
- 1 cup butter or margarine Room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter or margarine Room temperature
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- food coloring
Instructions
Mixing and Rolling out the Dough for Sugar Cookies
- Mixing and rolling out the dough is a crucial step in creating the perfect Christmas cookies with your kids. This part of the process not only allows your little ones to get hands-on with the baking but also sets the stage for the fun shapes they will soon be cutting out. So, let's dive into the next step of this festive baking adventure with your pint-sized chefs.
- Gather all your ingredients (get them out in time for the butter and eggs to get to room temperature).
- Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl and sift together. If you use a stand mixer, start your WET ingredients in the mixer’s bowl first.
- Beat sugar and margarine in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Beat first egg into butter mixture. Beat second egg into mixture along with vanilla extract.
- Add flour mixture and stir until dough is just combined.
- Wrap dough; chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours minimum. Some bakers advise to roll out the dough before chilling but myfrigerator is stuffed this time of year and there just isn't room! Good for you if you can—I love making as much as possible in advance.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Roll out dough on a clean floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters; arrange them on the prepared cookie sheets. Gather scraps and repeat this step.
- Bake in batches in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Making Christmas Sugar Cookie Frosting
- Cream butter
- Gradually ad inn powdered sugar
- Add in milk and extract
- Add in food coloring and any additional milk if needed to get a smooth spreading consistency.