One of my traditions at Christmas is to bake cookies and send to my friends and family.  Normally I would bake an assortment of cookies such as my favorite Jam Thumbprints, shortbread and also candied nuts.  This year I didn’t have the time to do that much baking so I selected an easy cookie recipe.  I made a yummy white chocolate frosting to go with it and had fun with the decorating.  They turned out…rustic.    I love my imperfect cookies.

To decorate I used what I had already, I used crushed candy cane, sugar pearls and glitter gel but you can pretty much do whatever you want.  I like a softer cookie, but if you like your sugar cookies crispy you can roll them thinner.   What are the traditions in your household at Christmas?  What do you find yourself looking forward to at Christmastime?

Here’s a link of cookies I’ve made from year to year.

Cookies and more cookies.

Soft Sugar Cookies

adapted from Terri Peters

1 cup butter softened

1 3/4 cup sugar

12 oz sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

4 1/2 cup flour

Add butter and sugar to mixer and mix until fluffy.  Add sour cream, vanilla and eggs to mixture and mix until combined.  In a bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt.  Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix well.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.

After 1 hour, working in batches, roll cookie on floured surface about  1/4 inch thin.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.   Cool before frosting.

White Chocolate Icing

adapted from Food Network Magazine

1/2 lb white chocolate chips

1 tsp vegetable shortening

1 tbsp light corn syrup

2 tbsp milk

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Assorted food coloring (optional)

crushed peppermint, assorted sprinkles and sugars,

sugar pearls and glitter gel.

To make icing, put white chocolate, shortening, corn syrup, milk, confectioners sugar and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl.  Cover and microwave for 30 second intervals until melted and smooth.  Stir after every 30 second.

Tint with food coloring.  Decorate cookies when cooled.