Every year my kids and I bake Christmas cookies that we cut out and decorate.  I have hunted high and low for an easy, but good recipe and a few years ago I discovered this one.  I found it best to make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight; then the next day we cut out, bake and decorate the cookies.  I use pre-made icing sometimes, but you can also make an easy icing by combining powered sugar with a little water and food coloring.

CHRISTMAS  COOKIE CUTTERS

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon lemon extract

Mix the dry ingredients.  Add the butter.  Us a mixer at low speed until the mixture resembles cornmeal.  In a seperate bowl, beat the eggs and then add the sugar and lemon extract; beat thoroughly.  Blend the egg mixture into the flour mixture.  Chill the dough overnight.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut with floured cookie cutters.  Bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes.

If you want to use colored sugar to decorate, put that on before baking.  Otherwise, use icing and other decorations after the cookie cools off.

I try not to get all Martha Stewart with my cookie decorations because I let the kids have fun decorating however they want to without any intervention or “suggestions” from me.  Here is a cookie that my daughter left for Santa last Christmas, 2007:

As you can see, we use all kinds of cookie cutters, not just Christmas shapes.  We got that that cookie cutter at Disney World, but Wiliams-Sonoma has some great ones.  Look at these fun Princess Cookie Cutters:

Or All Star Cookie Cutters:

So think outside the Christmas tree and angel shapes; go wild with your cookies!  Have fun!