Sugar cookies may come in all shapes and sizes, but nothing says Christmas more than cookies dressed up like Santa or a heavenly angel.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Makes 20 to 60 cookies, depending on their size.
