Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! xo

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and Delicious New Year!

Looking back on this past year, and all of the tragedies our country has endured with natural disasters and shootings and other acts of destruction – it makes me wish for people to remember what Christmas and the holidays are REALLY all about: joy, sharing, laughter, warmth, peace, giving and most of all LOVE for others. I sincerely wish all of you a holiday filled with these things – and a New Year filled with promise, prosperity and wonderfulness. Merry Christmas. xo

Mom’s Holiday Cutout Cookies

Recipe Type: Holiday, Baking, Sweets, Desserts
Author: Kristen Hess
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 50-60 cookies
This is a recipe for my Mom’s Holiday Cutout cookies – a recipe that she got from my Grandmother that we still use today every year for the holidays. The cookies are crisp and thin with a delicious vanilla almond flavor in the cookie and the icing. They are the most popular and addicting cookies on our holiday table every year. Enjoy!
Ingredients
  • COOKIES:
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
  • 1/3 c. soft butter or margarine
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
  • 1/8 to 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
  1. COOKIES:
  2. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.
  3. Add 1 egg and water, and beat until light and fluffy.
  4. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; blend into creamed mixture.
  5. Divide dough in half; chill 1 hour.
  6. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8″ thickness.
  7. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
  8. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees about 6-8 minutes.
  9. Cool slightly; remove from pan and glaze with buttercream frosting and top with sprinkles and decorative toppings.
  10. Let cookies chill and cool overnight, store in a container in layers of wax paper to prevent cookies from sticking.
  11. BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
  12. Mix together all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  13. Divide frosting into separate medium bowls, add food coloring of your choice.