Christmas cookies

Certainly! Here’s a classic recipe for Christmas Sugar Cookies along with a simple royal icing for decorating:

Christmas Sugar Cookies:

Ingredients:

For the Cookies:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Royal Icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
• 1/4 cup water
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

For the Cookies:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
5. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
6. Chill Dough: Divide the dough into two portions, shape them into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
7. Roll and Cut: On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
8. Bake: Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Royal Icing:

1. Mix Icing: In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth.
2. Adjust Consistency: If the icing is too thick, add more water. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar. Divide the icing into bowls and add food coloring if desired.
3. Decorate: Use the royal icing to decorate the cooled cookies. Allow the icing to set before stacking or storing the cookies.
4. Optional: Add Sprinkles or Decorations: If desired, add festive sprinkles or decorations to the icing while it’s still wet.
5. Serve and Enjoy: Once the icing is fully set, your Christmas sugar cookies are ready to be enjoyed!

These Christmas sugar cookies are a wonderful canvas for your holiday creativity. Feel free to get creative with shapes, colors, and decorations. Enjoy your festive baking!