Christmas Cookie Cutter Recipe

'Tis the season for Christmas cookies!!!  That was one of my favorite things to do as a child was to make cookies.  I especially loved eating the raw cookie dough :)  That's the best part I think!  Salmonella, heck, give that spoon of raw goodness!  Any who, I loved getting our Christmas cookie cutters out and my Mom rolling out the dough and I would cut out my cookies.  I remember the reindeer was my favorite... I always thought of him as Rudolph.  I can still see myself on the counter, flour everywhere, so excited to make cookies.  I've tried to carry on that tradition since Brian and I have been together.  I especially can't wait for Vivian is old enough for her to make cookies and have her favorite cookie cutter.  

I've used several recipes, even the one we had growing up, but I was thumbing through this cookbook and found a recipe that I decided to give a try.  I prepared the dough the night before and kept it in the fridge overnight.  That's the way to do it kids.  I usually prepare my dough then make my cookies.  Having the dough in the fridge for a few hours makes cutting out the cookies way easier.  I don't know why I've never done that before.  Lesson learned.  

I also learned to use smaller portions of dough to make your cookies instead of using the entire thing.  Again, another lesson learned.  I better figure all this out by the time Vivian is old enough to help me in the kitchen.  

 It was almost an all day event cutting out the cookies, baking and decorating with a 5 month old in the mix.  She would do fine sitting in the kitchen with me and then she would get fussy.  I would have to stop and entertain her and then go back to what I was doing.  At one point I was holding her while icing a cookie and that little stinker slapped her hand into the icing.  I had to eat it off her little hand before she stuck it in her mouth. Yeah, I could have just got a wet towel to clean her, but I didn't want the icing to waste :)  That's a good excuse, right?!

After several hours, I managed to decorate the cookies.

 I made more, but this was all that would fit onto this plate.  They are delicious guys!  I've already put a few of them away.  My hips and stomach aren't too happy with me right now.  However,  they got Brian's approval.  So they must be good!!!

Sugar Cookies

• 1 1/2 C sifted confectioner's sugar
• 1 C butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp almond flavoring
• 2 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar

Preheat oven at 375 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar.  Mix in egg and flavorings.  Blend dry ingredients and stir in.  Refrigerate 2-3 hours, or overnight.  Divide dough in half.  Roll out on lightly floured pastry cloth or counter.  Cut out desired shapes.  Bake for 7 to 8 minutes.     

Cadbury Mini-Egg Cookies

Happy Good Friday!!  

I can't believe Easter is already upon us and we will soon see it go.  Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays.  Not only do we celebrate Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and raising from the dead which is the most important reason that we celebrate, but oh to the pastel candy.  For some reason candy taste better because the wrapping or candy coating is pastel or shaped in a egg form. Especially Cadbury Eggs.  Cadbury Eggs have always been one of my favorite Easter candies. I always loved sucking out the creamy deliciousness then eating the chocolate.  Its so good!!!  While looking at Pinterest, I came across a recipe called Cadbury Mini-Egg Cookies.  As the pregnant lady that I am, I was in the mood to bake.  I know BK won't any of these and I will be the only one eating them. Ugh.  Hopefully, little Vivy won't become diabetic!  Actually on Monday I will find out the results from my gestational diabetes test that I took yesterday.  Crossing fingers!  On to the recipe.

recipe adapted here

Cadbury Mini-Egg Cookies:

1/2 cup softened butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup crushed Cadbury Mini-Eggs (I put them in a plastic bag and bashed them with a rolling pin being careful to leave big chunks)

1.  Preheat the oven to 375.  In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars.  Beat in the egg until well combined.  Add the vanilla, baking powder and salt and mix well.  Slowly stir in the flour and the Cadbury Mini-Eggs.

2.  Form the dough into balls about the size of a ping pong ball and place on baking sheet that has been covered with parchment paper.  You can place them directly on the sheet if you prefer.  Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes being very careful not to overbake.

3.  Slide the parchment paper of the baking sheet directly onto a wire rack.  Or if you didn't use the parchment paper, allow the cookies to cool for an additional minute or two on the baking sheet to prevent the soft cookies from slipping through the bars of the wire rack.  Cool completely.  Makes about 2 dozen.

 

Go ahead...you know you want to make some.  P.S.  it was literally an egg hunt to find these.  I guess that's what I get for making these the last weekend for Easter candy :)