Christmas Sugar Cookies

It isn't Christmas until we are baking sugar cookies.  

Last night for a special treat I gave our girls each their own set of Christmas kitchen tools.  They were so excited to unwrap an early Christmas treat.

These mini tools are perfect for little hands.  You can order from Pampered Chef.

We decided to add one special ingredient to our sugar cookies this time.

Here's the recipe we normally use for sugar cookies.  This recipe is perfect for cut out cookies, which we will be making soon.  I have to tell you though, the M&M sugar cookies were very yummy, and simple for our 2 year old to make (which made her very happy).

3 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1-1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 c. butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 T. milk
1 t. vanilla extract

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.  Cut in butter.  Add egg, milk and vanilla; mix well.  Divide dough into 2 balls; flatten each into a disc shape and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for one hour to 2 days, until ready to bake.  Roll out each disc 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface.  Cut out shapes with cookie cutters; placed on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 8 minutes, until very lightly golden; do not over bake.  Cool on wire racks.  When cooled, frost with stiff buttercream frosting; decorate as desired.  When frosting is set, store cookies in airtight containers with wax paper between layers.  Makes 6 to 7 dozen.

Snickerdoodles

Okay, I've got another dessert for you.  This recipe is for the best. cookie. EVER.  If you don't believe me you will simply have to try them and see for yourself.  They are sooo delicious.  (And the aroma that fills the kitchen while they are baking - incredible!)

If it seems that I've been making a lot of desserts lately, I have.  My honey and kids love this and I always do a lot of baking when company comes.  Everyone knows if you come to our house you are going to get some sweet sugary goodness.  That's just my thang.  

So, here it is.  The recipe that just might change your life!

3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 pkg Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine cinnamon and sugar in small bowl.  Combine cake mix, eggs, and oil in large bowl.  Stir until well blended.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Place balls 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.  Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.   

Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. softened butter

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, egg, and flavorings.  Add dry ingredients.  Divide dough in half, cover and refrigerate at least two hours.  Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes until edges are lightly browned.  Sprinkle with sugar or decorate with your favorite icing.  

OLIVIA'S SUGAR COOKIES

• 2 Cups of Sugar
• 1 Cup Crisco
• 1 Cup Butter
• 4 Eggs Beaten
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 6 Cups Flour
• 4 tsp Cream of Tartar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Baking Soda

Cream sugar, Crisco and butter.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Mix remaining ingredients and beat well.  For cut-out cookies refrigerate overnight - roll out and cut.  Bake for 9 minutes at 350 degrees.

Icing

• 1 Tbsp Margarine
• 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 1 Tbsp Milk

BANANA COOKIES

One of the things I love to do most is to bake.  I love that my kids love to bake also.  Almost everyday we are baking something - cookies, bread, cake, pie.  The house seems so cozy and inviting when the smell of yummy goodness is wafting from the oven.

I want to share with you a new cookie recipe from my friend Hannah.  After eating her cookies at a recent potluck I just had to have the recipe and she graciously sent it to my inbox.  Thank you, Hannah!

Banana Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup of shortening
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Cream together sugar, shortening, and vanilla until light and fluffy.  (*Hannah says it will cream a little faster if you add a little butter, about 2 tbs, softened.)  Add eggs, and beat well.  Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and gradually add to the egg mixture.  Gently stir in bananas. 

Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.  Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan and onto cooling rack immediately.

These cookies really are delicious.  They taste like banana bread, but better.  YUM-O!!

I am linked up with Comfy in the Kitchen today!  Click HERE! 

Preacher Cookies

1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/8 tsp salt
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix butter, cocoa, sugar, milk and salt together in saucepan .  Boil for 1 minute.  Stir in oatmeal, peanut butter and vanilla.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Allow to cool and harden.

Wookiee Cookies

Our Eli (8 years old) is a HUGE Star Wars fan, so for Christmas one of his grandmothers gave him a Star Wars cookbook.  Today I helped him with his first recipe, Wookiee Cookies.  We had so much fun and I have to say the recipe is really, really good.  Our entire family thinks it is better than the Toll House recipe.  (Sorry Nestle!)  The cookies are DELICIOUS and turn out nicely.  My regular chocolate chip cookies are often flat but these are nice and sturdy, and Chewiee!  (haha!!)  If you have a Star Wars fan in the house they will love making these, and if you don't, just change the name because this is a super yummy cookie recipe!

WOOKIEE COOKIES

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Put the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.  Stir with wooden spoon until well mixed.  Set aside.
Put the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in another mixing bowl.  Using the electric mixer set on high speed, beat together until well blended and creamy.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla.  Add the flour mixture and stir with the wooden spoon until blended. 
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Scoop up a rounded tablespoonful of the dough and drop onto a baking sheet.  Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.  Place on cooling racks, let cool completely.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Happy Fall Y'all - almost!

Fall is almost here and I'm so thrilled!  Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year.  I love the crisp days and the cozy nights.  The colorful leaves, the days getting shorter, the "smell" of Fall in the air, are all things I love.  Our family looks forward to the start of a new school year, and we love football and craft fairs, and Thanksgiving.  We love hiking in The Great Smoky Mountains and seeing God's vibrant use of color.  We love big bowls of chili and sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmallows.  We love apple butter and pumpkin pie.  We just love all things Fall!

Here is a recipe to get you in the mood for fall - if you aren't already.  This is fun to do with the kids.


PUMPKIN SPICE SUGAR COOKIES

There's nothing like homemade cookies fresh from the oven!

2-3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 c. butter, softened
1-1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
1 t. vanilla extract
1 egg

Combine flour and baking soda; set aside.  In another bowl, blend butter and powdered sugar together; add pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and egg.  Mix in flour mixture; blend well.  Cover dough; refrigerate for 2 hours.  roll dough out on a lightly floured surface; cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.  Bake at 350 degrees on ungreased baking sheets until golden, about 8 minutes.  Makes about 2 dozen.