Here’s a classic Christmas sugar cookie recipe for you to enjoy:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For Decorating:

  • Royal icing
  • Food coloring
  • Sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations

Instructions:

  1. Preheat Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar:
    • In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add Egg and Vanilla:
    • Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients:
    • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
  6. Chill the Dough:
    • Divide the dough into two or three portions, shape each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling the dough makes it easier to handle and helps the cookies hold their shape.
  7. Roll Out the Dough:
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
    • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
  8. Cut Out Shapes:
    • Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the rolled-out dough.
  9. Bake:
    • Place the cut-out cookies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
    • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. The exact time may vary based on your oven and the size of your cookies.
  10. Cool:
    • Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Decorate:
    • Once the cookies are completely cooled, you can decorate them with royal icing, food coloring, sprinkles, or other edible decorations. Get creative and have fun with the decorating process!

Royal Icing:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1/4 cup water

Mixing Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and meringue powder.
  2. Add water gradually, and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until glossy and stiff peaks form (about 5-7 minutes).

Feel free to customize this basic recipe by adding flavors like almond extract or lemon zest to the cookie dough or experimenting with different shapes and decorations. Enjoy your delicious homemade Christmas cookies!