Christmas Sugar Cookies: Just like Grandma Used to Make

By Sirena Van Schaik

Once upon a Christmas, I could actually look under the Christmas tree and not feel too disheartened if I didn’t have a high priced item under it. Christmas was just about the old traditions, spending time with family, laughing as you realized your husband had taped two potatoes onto a CD to try to disguise the gift and just relaxing throughout the day.

There was nothing complicated about the day. There was no need for all the extravagances that seem to be a must now a days and everything was just simple. I know that it doesn’t seem like a wonderful Christmas but something that I learned all those years ago, was that the simplest holidays made for the best.

That sentiment can be applied to just about anything. Today when everything seems to have tons of buttons, lots of features and seem to suck the money from your pocket as you sleep, a lot can be said about simplier things. They are so much nicer without all the “bells and whistles” and cookies are the same way.

Why do we need cookies with more ingredients than we can find in our pantry and why do they need to be filled with creams and jellies and everything in between. Sure those cookies can be nice, for the occasional treat, but why not go with something much simpler.

This recipe is just that; a return to simpler recipes, a recipe that Grandma would be proud of and would encourage you to make. Sure you can make Christmas Sugar Cookies with nuts and cherries and everything else but why not simply enjoy a classic that is deliciously uncomplicated.

What you need:

Cookie Dough:

• 3¾ cups of flour
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1½ cup of white sugar
• 4 tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup of shortening (yellow Crisco is best)
• ½ cup of butter
• 3 tbsp of milk

For the Frosting:

• 1 tbsp of milk
• 1/3 cup of soft butter
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups of confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

1. In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set to the side.
2. In a large bowl, combine the shortening and butter.
3. With an electric mixer, blend the butter and shortening together until they are well mixed and creamy.
4. Slowly add the sugar to the butter mixture and continue to mix until the ingredients are blended thoroughly.
5. Add the eggs to the butter mixture and mix until well-blended.
6. Finally add the vanilla to the butter mixture and mix.
7. Take the dry ingredients and slowly add a third of the flour to the butter mixture, stirring as you pour.
   Add one tbsp of milk to the butter mixture and continue to blend.
8. Repeat the process by adding the second third of flour and then the second tbsp of milk, mixing thoroughly each time. Repeat a third time.
9. Wrap and place in the fridge for about 2 hours or overnight.
10. Once the dough is chilled, roll it out on a lightly floured surface. It should be about ½ inch in thickness.
11. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, make sure you dip the cookie cutter edges in flour before you use them, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
12. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown, in an oven set at 400°F.
13. While the cookies are cooling, combine together all the ingredients for the frosting.
14. Blend them together with an electric hand mixer until everything is well-blended.
15. Spread the frosting onto the cooled cookies.

You can add a bit of festive color to this recipe by using a few drops of food coloring on the frosting. Use as many colors as you want and create some wonderful designs with them.