Sugar cookies may come in all shapes and sizes, but nothing says Christmas more than cookies dressed up like Santa or a heavenly angel.
What you'll need
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp. light corn syrup
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- Santa and angel cookie cutters
- Tubes of white decorator's frosting
- Red and yellow sugar sprinkles
- M & M's or Skittles
- Fruit leather
- Yellow gumdrops
- Tiny white candy balls
- Blue and red gel icing
How to make it
In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour and salt. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar, and stir in the egg, corn syrup and vanilla extract. One third at a time, stir in the flour mixture.
Pat the dough into two disks, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness between two pieces of waxed paper and cut into Santas or angels.
Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Let them sit for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.
To decorate the Santas, pipe the frosting into a beard and a hat. Sprinkle the stocking hat with red sugar, leaving the trim and pom-pom white. Use frosting to add an M & M nose and eyes and a fruit leather mouth.
To decorate the angels, pipe the frosting into lines on each angel's gown and collar. Frost the wings, then add yellow sugar. Slice a yellow gumdrop into a halo and attach it with frosting. For the angel's buttons, attach white candy balls with frosting. For eyes, use blue gel icing. Finally, add a red icing smile.
Makes 20 to 60 cookies, depending on their size.
