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A Christmas Classic…Cutouts

Nothing says Christmas like fresh baked Christmas cutout cookies.  These delicious holiday favorites are a tradition for so many and most of us remember making them and decorating them as kids.  Try this recipe for a soft style cookie that will melt in your mouth.

Ingredients

Cookies:

  • 3 cups Swany White Flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Icing:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (use clear for white icing)
  • 3-3.5 tablespoons milk use more or less as needed
  • Food coloring

Instructions

Cookies:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper (or a silicone baking mat), set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, cream together shortening and sugar until well combined.
  4. Then, mix in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  5. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  6. Divide the dough in half and roll out each half on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thick.
  7. Proceed to cut rolled dough with your favorite 2 to 3-inch cookie cutters.
  8. Re-roll any scrap pieces of sugar cookie dough and cut out more cookies until remaining dough is used.
  9. Place the cookies 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  10. Bake in separate batches at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until the tops of the cookies are set and very lightly browned.
  11. Cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Icing:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and slowly add milk until well combined. Icing will be ready when you lift the whisk from the mixing bowl and still see the ribbons of icing that fall back into the bowl for a few seconds. *Add more milk to thin out the icing or powdered sugar to make it thicker.
  2. Separate the icing into mixing bowls and add desired food coloring as needed.
  3. Decorate and enjoy!