Recipes

Rachel Johnson, Contributor

Christmas Sugar Cookies

One dough, two festive ideas! Be sure to save some for Santa!

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour

MAKES: About 12 bars (32 cookies)

INGREDIENTS:

DOUGH:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

CHRISTMAS BARS:

1 (16-ounce) tub vanilla frosting

Green sanding sugar

Gold sprinkles

CHAI-SPICED SNICKERDOODLES:

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 cup sugar

PREPARATION AND COOKING:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a bowl, combine flour and salt; whisk well. If making Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodles (below), add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ground cardamom.

3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until combined (about 1 minute).

4. Add sugar; beat until smooth (about 1 minute). Add egg and vanilla; mix until just combined. Scrape down the bowl.

5. Slowly add flour, mixing on low speed just until combined.

CHRISTMAS BARS

1. Coat a 9-inch round baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; line with parchment paper, allowing some of the paper to hang off edge of pan.

2. Divide dough in half, saving one half for another use or a second batch of cookies.

3. Press cookie dough into the pan, smoothing it out into an even layer. Use a fork to poke a few holes into the dough.

4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are set and just starting to brown (the cookie will be slightly underdone in the middle).

5. Use parchment to lift cookie onto a wire rack; cool.

6. Using a pizza cutter or a knife, cut cookie into four quarters; cut each corner into three even pieces (you will have 12 Christmas tree cookies).

7. Transfer frosting to a piping bag lined with a star tip; pipe a vertical zigzag pattern onto top of cookies, creating a tree. Sprinkle with green sanding sugar; use gold sprinkles to create ornaments.

CHAI-SPICED SNICKERDOODLES

1. In a small bowl, mix sugar and remaining cinnamon.

2. Portion dough into 2-inch balls. Roll dough balls in sugar mixture, coating completely; arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

3. Bake 15 to 16 minutes, or until edges are brown and set.

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-- Follow Rachel on Instagram @racheltherecipe

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