Christmas Cookies!

My mom baked all of these delicious Christmas cookies and my sister and I helped to decorate...yum! All the recipes are from Better Homes and Gardens Cookies for Christmas and they're the ones we make every year. The sugar cookies are the best sugar cookies ever. Merry Christmas to all!


Swirled Mint Cookies

2 c flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 c butter
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
red and green food coloring

1. Combine flour and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract and beat well. Add flour and beat in. Divide into thirds. Stir 10 drops red food coloring into one third, 10 drops green into another third, and leave the final third plain. Chill at least one hour.
2. Roll each third into long ropes 1/2 inch in diameter (may want to do this in batches). Place one role of each color side by side and wist together. Slice into 1/4 inch pieces and roll into balls. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Flatten to 1/4 inch thickness with the bottom of a glass dipped in additional sugar. Bake at 375 degrees, about 6-8 minutes. Remove and cool.

Rolled Sugar Cookies

2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 T butter
1/3 c Crisco
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 T milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Stir together dry ingredients. In a large bowl, beat butter and shortening until softened. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat well. Add flour mixture and beat till well mixed. Chill at least 3 hours.
2. Roll dough out very thin. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

Wishing Cookies (Ginger Stars)

3 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
1 egg
2 T molasses
1 T water
1/2 tsp grated orange or lemon peel

1. Stir together dry ingredients. In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter until softened. Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, molasses, water, and peel and beat well. Stir in flour mixture gradually Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
2. Roll dough 1/8 in thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 minutes.

Scandinavian Almond Bars

1 3/4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c butter or margarine
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 /2 tsp almond extract
1/2 c sliced almonds, coarsely chopped
Almond Icing

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until softened. Beat in sugar till fluffy. Add egg and almond extract and beat well. Stir in flour mixture.
2. Divide into fourths. Form each into a 12 inch roll. Place two rolls 4-5 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten each until 3 inches wide, and repeat with remaining rolls.
3. Brush flattened rolls with milk and sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-14 minutes (keep a close eye), or till edges are lightly browned. While still warm, cut croswise at a diagonal into 1 inch strips. Drizzle with almond icing.

Almond Icing: Stir together 1 c sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp almond extract, and enough milk (3-4 tsp) to make icing of drizzling cons

Mom and sister with decorated cookies...