Decorated Sugar Cookies

The last Christmas cookies we made this year was the decorated sugar cookies.  We make these every year, and my mom, sister, and me decorate them together.  They're lotsa fun to make (and eat!)

We use the sugar cookie recipe from from Betty Crocker's Cookbook and the Buttercream icing recipe from The Wilton School's Decorating Cakes.

Ingredients:

• Sugar Cookies
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 5 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. salt
• Frosting
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 8 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 4 tbsp. milk
• food coloring
• optional: sprinkles, chocolate chips, marshmallows, red hots, mini M&Ms, etc.

Thoroughly mix the shortening, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Gradually blend in the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Cover the dough and chill for at least 1 hour.

Roll the dough 1/8-inch thick on a lightly-floured surface.

Cut the dough into your desired shapes using cookie cutters.  Place the cookies on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 400ºF for 6 minutes.

Next you need to make the buttercream frosting.

Cream the butter and shortening in a mixer.  Add the vanilla.

Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well on medium speed.

Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl when needed. The frosting should appear dry.

Add the milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Divide the frosting and add food coloring.  We use Wilton's food coloring.

Stir in the coloring.

Now it's time to decorate!  Frost the cookies and add sprinkles, chocolate chips, M&Ms, coconut - whatever you like.

Here's all the cookies we made this year.

Hope you enjoyed seeing our Christmas baking.  Merry Christmas!