Christmas Sugar Cookies

Merry Christmas everyone! I've been neglecting my blog and will spare you any excuses. However, I have been baking a lot (big surprise) for the holidays. We like to decorate sugar cookies with our families every Christmas and had a nice time together last night. I made Dorie's sugar cookies again but this time I added more vanilla, rolled them a little thicker, and baked them a little less. My husband said he liked the crunchier ones, and I much preferred this batch. Funny how we are all different. Either way, these were easy and delicious. The dough is irresistable, too. That's my definition of a good cookie, even if rolling the dough and cutting the shapes is less than fun for me. I do love the end results, though.
Every year we have some fun cookies. Last year we had some weird fall themed snowmen after I got out some fall sprinkles on accident (never again!) My mom made these cute little guys. I love that they have collared shirts, haha.

I'm making 100 red velvet cupcakes for the family Christmas party tomorrow (my mom has a really big family...) and can't wait to decorate them with my enormous new frosting tips (I even sprang for the 16 inch bag, wow!) Kristi and I are going to try to decorate them together tomorrow while the kiddies play. Wish us luck!

Soft Sugar Cookies
adapted from Baking by Dorie Greenspan
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 stick plus 2 tablespoons (10 tablespooons) softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for a minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour slowly, being careful not to over-beat. Divide the dough into half and shape into two disks. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least two hours.

Preheat the over to 350. Line two baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment. Roll out dough onto lightly floured surface to about 3/8 or 1/2 inch thickness and cut cookies out with cutters. Bake for 8 minutes for soft cookies, 10 for crisp. Remove from oven, place onto cooling racks, and frost after cooled.

LaNell's Icing
My mom is always a little more generous with the butter than I am. She made the frosting this year and it was delicious as usual.

1 stick softened butter
1 bag powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 tablespoons milk

Beat butter in mixer until soft. Add about 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time until encorporated. Add vanilla and milk until desired consistency is reached.