C is for cookie!

Or Christmas.  Or CHRISTMAS COOKIE!  It's tradition in our family to do our sugar cut out cookies the Saturday before Christmas, and since next Saturday is Christmas eve, today was the day!  The weather even got in on the action-a light falling snow dusted our neighborhood, making it extra festive.  This morning, I prepped the dough for both sugar cookies and ginger people:

Cut out Sugar Cookies (adapted from Pillsbury)
3 cups Flour
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp Almond flavoring
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3 tbsp milk

Mix sugar, butter, egg, milk, and salt thoroughly.  Gradually add in flour, baking powder, and flavoring until dough is smooth and pliable.  Like so...

 Love this thing.  I am a spoiled child.

 Refill your coffee while the mixer does all the work.  Ahhh, life is good.

 Get out your decorations for the creative process!

 Mix dough for ginger guys: 

1/2 c. butter 

3/4 c. sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 c. molasses
2 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger

 

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and molasses. Sift the dry ingredients and mix with the wet ingredients.  Chill for one hour.

While waiting for dough to chill, get out your cooking slippers....

 And cookie cutters the size of your hand.

 Cut out the ginger guys (and gals).  Preheat the oven to 400.  Bake 6-8 minutes, or until brown.  Just kidding...they already are brown :-)  Makes 3 dozen (ish)

 Collect your reinforcements for the creative cookie cutting!

 Double check the dough to make sure it's safe to serve!

Bake your sugar cookies for 7-9 minutes at 400.  Makes 6 dozen (ish).  Let cool for an hour.
Part 2...the fun part!  Mix your icing (confectioners sugar and almond flavoring).  Pull out colored jimmies, sprinkles, and anything that looks good on a cookie :-).  Create.

Admire.

Part one of baking, done!  Now, onto Christmas movies for the night...and hopefully the cookies wont all dissapear tonight O:-)