Christmas Treats - Cut Out Sugar Cookies

The picture above is our home this Christmas Eve.  Every year, one of our neighbors lines the entire cul-de-sac with luminaries. It's so beautiful and peaceful. The picture doesn't do it justice.

The girls and I have spent the last two days baking.  We had a great time making some of our old favorites as well as trying some new recipes we found on a couple of our favorite food blogs. 

When we were finished frosting the last cookie, Jim and I delivered goodie bags to all of our neighbors in the cul-de-sac.  I love these bags!

Now on to the yummy stuff!  Let's meet the pastry chefs!

Daughter #1

Daughter #2

ALMOND CUT OUT SUGAR COOKIES with ROYAL ICING

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Ingredients:
3 c. all-purpose flour (unbleached)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
1 c. butter (2 sticks)
2 large or extra large egg
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. pure almond extract

In a bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder, set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until completely combined.

No need to chill dough.  Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 7-9 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.

ROYAL ICING

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Meringue Powder
4 cups powdered sugar
6 Tbsp water

Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer).  Makes 3 cups.

Divide and add food coloring.  We used squeeze bottles and they worked wonderfully!

Pipe around the edges of each cookie.

Once you complete the piping around the edges, add a small amount of water to the icing in the bottles, making it the consistency of syrup.  Use the thinner icing to fill inside the piping.

And when you're done, this is what you get!

Stay tuned for another recipe soon!

Kelly

stopitoff.blogspot.com