Who can resist a sugar cookie with crisp edges and decorated top? Some people use a time-tested recipe passed down from generation to generation. Others prefer to be adventurous and try a new recipe each year. A recent holiday trend in the US is to have a Christmas cookie exchange party. It is both a chance to get together with friends and an opportunity to try new cookie recipes.
Organizing a cookie exchange party is easy. First, invite nine of your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors or anyone you know who likes cookies! Tell each person to bring 20 of their favorite homemade Christmas cookies. They should also bring ten copies of the recipe and a cookie tin.
At the party, exchange so that each person leaves with a tin filled with ten different types of cookie and their recipes. Be sure to have lots of milk for dunking and tasting!
Christmas sugar cookie recipe, from Real Simple magazine
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl or 64-ounce Pyrex cup. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture. Mix until just incorporated.
Divide the dough in half and flatten each portion into a 1-inch-thick disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350° F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Scraps can be combined and rolled out again. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.
Yield
3 dozen cookies
Organizing a cookie exchange party is easy. First, invite nine of your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors or anyone you know who likes cookies! Tell each person to bring 20 of their favorite homemade Christmas cookies. They should also bring ten copies of the recipe and a cookie tin.
At the party, exchange so that each person leaves with a tin filled with ten different types of cookie and their recipes. Be sure to have lots of milk for dunking and tasting!
Christmas sugar cookie recipe, from Real Simple magazine
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl or 64-ounce Pyrex cup. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture. Mix until just incorporated.
Divide the dough in half and flatten each portion into a 1-inch-thick disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350° F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Scraps can be combined and rolled out again. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.
Yield
3 dozen cookies
