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Holiday Sugar Cookies

Holiday Sugar Cookies
Cute Santas and a very creative string of lights are sure to steal the show this Christmas! They're the perfect centerpiece for your holiday cookie platter. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
49 ServingsPrep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • DECORATING:
  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup
  • Assorted sprinkles
  • Shoestring licorice
  • 1/3 cup flaked coconut
  • 28 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
  • 14 red M&M's miniature baking bits
  • 28 miniature marshmallows, halved

Directions

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light
  • and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda
  • and cream of tartar; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
  • Divide dough in half. Cover and chill in the freezer for 25 minutes
  • or until easy to handle.
  • For lights: On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough
  • to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-1/2-in. light-shaped
© Taste of Home 2013

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Holiday Sugar Cookies (continued)

Directions (continued)

  • cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using a
  • plastic straw, make a hole 1/2 in. from the top of each cookie.
  • Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
  • Use a plastic straw to reopen holes in cookies. Remove to wire racks
  • to cool completely.
  • For Santas: Roll remaining dough directly on an ungreased baking
  • sheet into an 11-in. x 8-in. rectangle. Cut lengthwise into two
  • strips, but do not separate. Cut each strip into seven triangles (do
  • not separate).
  • Bake at 350° for 10-13 minutes or until edges are lightly
  • browned. Cool for 2 minutes; cut around cookies to separate. Remove
  • from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • To decorate: Microwave corn syrup for 6-8 seconds or until thinned.
  • Working with a few cookies at a time, brush corn syrup over the
  • surface. For lights, decorate with sprinkles as desired. Thread
  • licorice through holes.
  • For Santas, press coconut onto faces for beards. Attach chocolate
  • chips for eyes and baking bits for noses. For hats, coat top of
  • cookie with sprinkles; attach marshmallow halves for pom-poms.
  • Yield: 4 dozen cookies.
© Taste of Home 2013