Decorating Cookies

One of our favorite holiday traditions around here is decorating form cookies. Over the years, I have acquired a collection of cookie cutters for each season. Some of them are very old and come from my Grandma Buesching and a long time family friend of theirs Lorene Ehle. It is fun to get these treasured heirlooms out each season to use. We decorate cookies a couple of times of year usually for Halloween, Easter and of course Christmas. This year, Halloween was really busy for us so we decided to do Thanksgiving cookies instead. Mary had invited a friend over for the afternoon so we baked and decorated the cookies. This is a holiday tradition that the girls and I look forward to each year. 

Here is the recipe that I use. It is from the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. The key to rolling out cookies is to flour surface well and keep dough chilled between batches. Remember, the more you work dough the harder it is to use. Also, dip cookie cutter in flour before using on dough.

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

2 3/4 cup flour

Beat butter for 30 seconds with mixer. Add sugar and beat until combined. Beat in eggs, cream of tartar, baking soda, and vanilla. Beat in flour a little at a time as you can with mixer. Stir in the rest. Cover and chill in refrigerator for 3 hours. 

After chilled, roll out dough and cut out cookies. Bake at 375 for 9-12 minutes. Cool thoroughly, frost and decorate.

I use this simple buttercream frosting to decorate. I make one full batch and then divide it into smaller bowls adding a different food coloring to each. We then frost with color of choice and add sprinkles. You can get sprinkles inexpensively at the dollar store sometimes as well as after holiday seasons. We have also used chocolate chips, red hots, marshmallows and coconut.

Buttercream Icing

3/4 cup shortening

1/2 tsp almond flavoring

1 tsp vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup water

Beat shortening and flavorings together. Add powdered sugar and beat into shortening mixture. Add water and beat for several minutes until light and fluffy.

Try decorating cookies together this holiday season. I think you will enjoy it.