Holiday Sugar Cookies... get ready for Santa!

So most of the shopping is done, the decorations are all in place, the laborious task of Christmas cards is done and we're now waiting for Santa to arrive. 

And I happen to know that Santa likes cookies.  Lots of cookies. Sugar-emblazoned, vanilla-rich, frosting-slathered cookies.  None of these Chips Ahoy, or Sandies, or any other store-made "Dirt" cookies.  No, Santa needs the good stuff.  And if he's going to bring you that 6-disc Star Wars Blu-ray set or Cooking for Geeks in Hardcover (just in case you wanted to send me something, never hurts to ask), doesn't he deserve to get delicious sugar bombs?  He needs all the calories he can consume if he's going to visit a billion households in one night.

This recipe works extremely well and it's a great "Weekend before Christmas" activity for the kids.  And you can choose to decorate them any way you want.  Once again, instead of buying big bags of candy to decorate the cookies, find a grocery store with a very good bulk section (like Winco) and buy a small amount of a multitudes of different candies.  It gives the kids a wade variety of options and you'll be pleasantly surprised at their creativity.  The picture above uses the cinnamon imperials and miniature M&Ms.

Holiday Sugar Cookies

Makes 18-24

1 cup sugar

1 cup softened butter

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

3 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pull out your mixing bowl and set up the paddle attachment.  Add the sugar and butter and beat them for 3 minutes.  Add the egg and the milk to the bowl and continue to beat it for another 5 minutes.  While the mixer is running, combine the flour, baking powder and the salt.  Next, turn the mixer to low and slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.  Mix on a low setting until the flour mixture is well incorporated.  Remove the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

When you're ready to make the cookies,preheat the over to 350 degrees.  Prepare the rolling surface by sprinkling it with powdered sugar instead of flour.  The cornstarch in the powdered sugar will prevent the dough from sticking to the counter.  Roll the dough out until it is 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out any shape you want and use a spatula to transfer them to a cookie sheet.  Recombine the leftover dough, roll it out again and cut out more cookies.  Cook them one sheet at a time for 12-14 minutes, checking them at 10 minutes.

Cookie Frosting

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons softened butter or shortening, your preference

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon milk

Food coloring

Combine the powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in a mixer and beat until thoroughly combined. Add the milk and then mix again.  Add more milk or more powdered until reaches the right consistency.  Finally, slowly add the food coloring until you reach the desired hue.  Spread on cookies and decorate any way you'd like.

So make a batch of these, show your appreciation to Santa, and maybe... just maybe... he'll leave you an extra gift or two.