DECEMBER MEALS + A SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE YOU’LL LOVE

Cookie baking, Holiday movie watching, hall decking, and gift wrapping, sign me up for it all. But with December 1 comes a reality check. Christmas will be here before I know it and there’s so much I want to get done between now and the 24th. Assuming you guys are in the same boat, I did my best to curate dishes and recipes that are mostly easy to make and perfect for leftovers! But first a sugar cookie recipe that does not disappoint! Seriously, I don’t eat many desserts that don’t involve chocolate and couldn’t stop snacking on these.

SUGAR COOKIE + ICING RECIPE

YOU’LL NEED (for cookies):

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
cookie cutters (I used this one)

YOU’LL NEED (for icing):

2 cups shortening
1 tbsp vanilla extract
8 cups powdered sugar (aka icing sugar)
1/4 cup whipping cream, less or more for desired thickness/texture
sprinkles
food coloring (the all-natural one we used)

TO MAKE THE COOKIES:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together butter and sugar. Then add egg and vanilla and cream together.
Whisk the baking powder and flour together. Gradually add dry ingredients to sugar mixture, mixing in-between until well combined.
Knead dough by hand for a minute then immediately roll smaller batches, on a floured surface, to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out with cookie cutters.
Place on cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven before they brown. Move to wire rack or platter and let cool completely before icing.

TO MAKE THE ICING:

In a large bowl, beat shortening and vanilla. Add powdered sugar in small amount (I added 1/2 cup at a time) and combine.
Add cream gradually and beat until desired thickness and consistency.
Divide icing into bowls and add food coloring to each as desired!
Spread onto cooled cookies and add sprinkles!

Here are a few other dinners on our menu plan this December!