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Christmas Sugar Cookies
by Martha Matthews
What would Christmas be without sugar cookies? If you are looking for
something new to make this year, try these scrumptious renditions of an
old favorite.
Candy Cane Sugar Twist Cookies
Basic Dough
1 cup of butter, softened
1 cup of confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1 tsp of vanilla
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2 1/2 cups of sifted flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
2 tbsp of red food coloring (for Candy Cane Sugar cookies only)
Directions:
Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the
egg, vanilla and almond extract. Set aside. Mix the flour salt, baking
soda, and cream of tartar together. Stir into the butter mixture. Divide
the dough in half and add the red food coloring to half the dough.
Refrigerate dough for one hour.
Take one teaspoon of each color of dough and roll out into 4 inch long
strips. Lay the strips side by side and twist together to make a red and
white striped rope. Place the dough on an ungreased cookie sheet. Turn
the end into a curve to make the canes handle. Repeat this procedure to
make 12 canes. Place 1 inch apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool
completely.
VARIATIONS
White Chocolate and Candy Cane Cookies
Candy Cane Topping
1/2 cup crushed red and white peppermint candy
2 tbsp red colored sugar
Directions:
Crush the peppermint candy in a heavy plastic bag with a hammer or
rolling pin. Mix in the red colored sugar.
White Chocolate Coating
1 cup of Nestle white morsels
Directions:
Melt the morsels in a microwave safe container, uncovered, on medium
high (70%) for 1 minute. Stir and microwave at additional 10 to 20
second intervals, stirring in until smooth.
Cookie Directions
Make one batch of the basic dough from above. Roll dough into one inch
balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten by pressing
with the bottom of a drinking glass coated with sugar. Dip the glass in
the sugar for each cookie. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on
the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool
completely. Dip each cookie half way in the warmed white chocolate then
sprinkle with the red sugar and peppermint mixture.
Chocolate Kiss Cookies
Make one batch of the basic dough from above but substitute the
peppermint extract with 1/2 tsp of almond extract. Roll dough into one
inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten by
pressing with the bottom of a drinking glass coated with sugar. Dip the
glass in the sugar for each cookie. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Upon removing the cookies from the oven, immediately put one large
Hershey Kiss in the middle of the cookie. Cool on the cookie sheet for
10 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Peppermint Peppermint Sugar Cookies
Make one batch of the basic dough from above but substitute the almond
flavoring with 1/2 tsp of the peppermint flavoring. Roll dough into one
inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten by
pressing with the bottom of a drinking glass coated with sugar. Dip the
glass in the sugar for each cookie. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool
completely. To glaze, arrange the cookies on a piece of wax paper one
inch apart. Spoon the glaze over each cookie. Let dry completely. Spoon
another coat over the cookies. Sprinkle with the red sugar peppermint
mixture. Let dry completely again.
Peppermint Glaze
3 cups of confectioner's sugar
2 to 3 tbsp of water
1/4 tsp of red food coloring
1/4 tsp peppermint flavoring
Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. The glaze should be thin
enough to pour from a spoon. Add a few drops of water and beat again if
it gets too thick while using. Makes about one cup of glaze.
Candy Cane Topping
1/2 cup crushed red and white peppermint candy
2 tbsp red colored sugar
About the author
Martha Matthews is a wife, mother, home manager and the Executive
Director of Christian-Homemaking.com,
a web site with resources devoted to helping Christian Homemakers Manage
their home. She also has a popular free monthly newsletter for Christian
Homemakers called The Christian Homemaking Newsletter. To subscribe visit
www.christian-homemaking.com/newsletter.html
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