Loosen your belts everyone it’s time for dessert!
Sugar cookie cut outs have become a Christmas tradition at the Happy House. Every year we bake over 100 cookies in anticipation of our annual cookie frosting party. The first several years I had trouble finding the perfect sugar cookie recipe. We like our cookies to be slightly sweet, but not too sweet because I use a butter cream frosting.
The slightly sweet Sugar Cookie Cut Outs (makes about 36 cookies)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teas baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1 teas vanilla
- 2 cups flour
Mix all ingredients together to form the dough. Add the flour last and do not add all at once. Add slowly until the dough is the correct consistency to roll out (slightly sticky). Then chill the dough in the fridge for at least three hours. This is a key part of the recipe. Cold dough rolls out very well, warm dough sticks to everything.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness and then use cookie cutters to create your cookies.
I line my baking sheets with parchment paper to keep the bottoms of the cookies from burning.
Also make sure you put cookies that are the same general size on the same cookie sheet. If you put a thin candy cane with a giant Santa head, your candy cane cookie will burn.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes. This will vary greatly depending on your oven and the thickness of the cookie. Thin cookies can burn in 7 minutes while fat cookies take about 10 minutes.
When the cookies are just slightly golden take them out of the oven and let them sit on the cookie sheet for another minute. Then remove from tray and cool on a rack.
Frost cookies with super sweet butter cream frosting.
Butter Cream Frosting (makes enough frosting for about 100 cookies)
- 1/2 stick softened butter
- 2 lbs powdered sugar
- 1/2 teas vanilla
- milk
Mix together butter and powdered sugar. Add vanilla. While mixing pour in milk, small amounts at a time, until your frosting reaches the desired consistency. Add food coloring if you want a variety of colors and then you are ready to frost.
Now it’s your turn. Share your favorite dessert recipe by adding your dessert post to Mr. Linky below. Link back to this post on your blog so others can participate too. The more people adding desserts the more we all have to choose from!
If you haven’t visited the other “homes” in our bloggy progressive dinner it’s not too late to stop by and find some delicious recipes, there are also giveaways going on at each blog.
*Joy served Drinks on Monday Dec. 15 at Five Js.
*Kate served APPETIZERS on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at A Simple Walk.
* JessieLeigh served SALADS on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles.
* Amy served the MAIN COURSE on Thursday, Dec. 18 at The Finer Things in Life.
* I’m serving up DESSERT on Friday, Dec. 19 at The Happy Housewife.
The Giveaway
And now for the moment you have all been waiting for, the final giveaway of the Bloggy Progressive Dinner! Since we are talking desserts today I thought our prize should be something related to cooking, so I am giving away an apron, made by me. It is a butcher style apron made specifically for baking, no frills or fanciness on this one. This apron is fully lined with a front pocket and is made to protect your nice Christmas sweater when you are making all these awesome desserts. All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment on this post. That’s it. The giveaway ends Sunday night so enter soon!
I’m on Twitter now. You can follow me by clicking here.
For more recipes visit The Grocery Cart Challenge.
Not sure why Mr. Linky disappeared this morning. I will try and relink those who participated! Feel free to relink!
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{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
Yahoo, I’m first!
We just made this again tonight. I’m not telling how much I ate…
Merry Christmas everyone, thanks for a fun week of progressive dining.
Kelly
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Love the apron! And those cookies look super yummy. My mother-in-law sends us cut-outs each year, and the boys love them.
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I heart aprons! My 5 yr old daughter and I made sugar cookies today. She had such a good time rolling out the dough and cutting out the cookies. Awesome holiday memory!
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One more comment I forgot. I noticed the cookie recipe calls for shortening, and I wanted to make sure your readers knew about a healthier brand they could use. (Hopefully no one still uses Crisco or other vegetable oils – they’re heart killers.) This is made by Spectrum Naturals – “organic shortening” made with palm oil. I use this or butter for all my baking since it’s so good for us. I know this is contrary to what you’ve heard through the years – but just think: “what’s more natural?”
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I like the apron. Great recipes and give a way.
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Those cookies look amazing. I’ll have to try them. Love the apron too.
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Can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I’ve never made cut out cookies before! This may be the year, though. Thank you for the recipes! The apron is super-cute.
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Those cookies look like they were fun to decorate. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win that apron!
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now I want to make sugar cookies. will have to try your recipe.
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Love the apron! It has inspired me to take up sewing in the new year!
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My friend and I spent all night Saturday doing a double batch of sugar cookies and decorating. While we had a blast and loved how they turned out…we were absolutely exhausted from that and shopping beforehand.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
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Yes, I want a pretty new apron! I’ve seen a few bloggers making new aprons this Christmas and I’ve been envying them. I want one of my own! Pretty please??
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I think I try a new sugar cookie recipe every year, because I just can’t find the “perfect” one. Thanks for this one. I can’t wait to try it!
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I LOVED making sugar cookies for the holidays when I was little. My mom would let me cut out the shapes and then decorate them when they cooled.
Love that apron – perfect for having fun in the kitchen!
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Hi there, I’m new to your blog via the Christmas Tour of Homes… LOVE it! I have only ever subscriped to two others, but yours is so fun & full of great ideas!
Thanks for sharing!
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mmmmmm–your cookies look good!
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Love the apron! Your cookies are cute; I like all the different colors you used.
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The apron is right up my alley. I love all things simple yet feminine. I don’t currently own an apron….well, I do but it’s old, worn, and getting to be too small. It’s due time for a new one. I’d love to win your beautiful one!
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Cute apron! Very “hip”!
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I love the apron! Thanks for the chance of winning it. I learned the importance of refrigerating the cookie dough really quick. It REALLY helps!
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Well after you saw my blog you know I could use a apron : )
I love it!!
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I love me some APRONS! Count me in! LOL
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Those cookies look very yummy! We just made a batch this week and I’m tempted to make them one more time before Christmas. The apron is cute, I’d love to win!!
I’m having a contest on my blog today too, want to come enter?
-Laura
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We make loads of sugar cookies here, too! So much fun from beginning to delicious end.
Love the apron!
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Well, you know i’m learning how to cook, and every chef needs a great apron…LOL!! Pretty, pretty please???
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Yummy sugar cookies!! I am planning on making some today, just might go ahead and make this one!
Thanks for sharing!
That apron looks pretty! I would love to have it…my first one! 
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Lovely apron!!!
Mrs. Talented.
We made some cut out cookies the other day and you’d have thought we were at a party
hehe
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Great job! What fun! I love the apron!
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Beautiful apron! This is how we make our cookies too. Will be making some this weekend! Can’t wait. Whoever decorated your cookies – did an AWESOME job!
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We always make cut-out sugar cookies for Santa. Thanks for the recipe.
Merry Christmas!
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OOOh, I love the apron. Thanks for the chance to win such a neat gift!
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Iove the apron and the model! And the cookies, cookies, cookies!
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I wish I could make such a cute apron! Instead, I put one on my Christmas list!
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That’s great fabric you chose for the apron. And now I’m even more excited for our annual Christmas cookie decorating day!
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Very pretty apron!
We’re going to be making our cookies this weekend. My first time with all 4 boys, I’m excited!
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I LOVE the apron!!
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I love the apron!! I am starting my cookie baking tonight. We have several dozen to make and decorate for our neighbors. Have a blessed Christmas!!!
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We love making sugar cookies and decorating them! It’s part of the tradition.
I am also crazy about aprons. Some day, I want to have a wall in the kitchen with cuphooks all over it, with a zillion different aprons all hanging on them.
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We bake and decorate sugar cookies every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving with my mom – this is one of my favorite traditions. I love the apron! Thanks for this giveaway.
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Pretty apron!
Jaz–I have a wall like that in my kitchen.
The only time I don’t wear an apron is to sleep and when I leave the house–and then I always feel not quite dressed; I’m so used to having on an apron!
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You are amazing!
Love, Hope
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I want the apron. Pick me, pick me!!
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Oooooo!!! That apron is so cute! Enter me, please!
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First off let me tell you I adore your blog. Very cute name, colors and information is great! This coming from a fellow happy housewife/mom.
I want to thank you for sharing this recipe for Sugar Cookies. We are big on Family Traditions in our home. I think its important to have them with our kids. I think I might just give your cookie recipe a whirl with my own family. We always bake cookies at Christmas but, normally just make whatever. So it might be good to start making this recipe. This would be so much fun for the kids!
I think family traditions help create tons of special memories for the family and it helps create strong, happy characters in our children.
So thanks again!
Oh yea … if you want to pick me for the apron I would be ever so humble
I could wear it while making your sugar cookie recipe and creating lasting memories with my family!
Sincerely,
Rhonda Warren
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Merry Christmas!!
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I love your blog! Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!
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WHat a pretty apron! The cookies look fun too!
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The cookies look good! I have the same problem with sugar cookies; the cookie is so sweet, and then the frosting is complete overkill. Will have to try this recipe out!
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Christmas without cut out, just would not be the same. Thanks for the great recipe. Your apron is darling as well……………..I would LOVE to win it!!
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