Christmas Cookies & Homemade Frosting

What would Christmas be without cookies, right? I think this recipe for Christmas cookies is just as good, if not better, than any cookies you would buy in a bakery. They're not difficult to whip up and they're great for getting the family together to make in the kitchen. You can also make a few dozen, wrap them up in gift boxes and mail them off to family & friends for the holidays! Ho, Ho, Ho!!!

Note: There is a recipe for frosting at the bottom. Again, it's easy to make and go well with these cookies.

Note: I didn't add enough red food coloring to my cookie frosting in the photo below... that's why tend to look a bit orange... or tomato sauce red... but they were still delicious!


Christmas Cookies


Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt


Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together.

2. Beat in eggs, vanilla extract and almond extract.

3. In another bowl, combined flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add sugar mixture and beat until smooth. (You may need to get your hands in there as it becomes doughy and mix it. It's ok to get a little messy!)

4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

6. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

7. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut cookies shapes out. (If you don't have a cookies cutters, I used the rim of a wine glass to cut out circles.)

8. Place the cut out cookies on the baking sheet and chill for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.

9. Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes.

10. Allow 15 minutes for cookies to cool before applying frosting & sprinkles.



Recipe For Homemade Christmas Cookie Frosting:

Ingredients:
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract or peppermint extract
food coloring

Directions:
In a bowl, stir sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and extract until it becomes glossy. If too thick, add more corn syrup. Mix in food coloring to your likely.