Christmas Sugar Cookie Ornaments
Delightful and festive sugar cookie ornaments perfect for holiday decorating and gift-giving, combining simplicity with creativity in baking.
Ingredients
Cookie Base
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk Add to adjust dough consistency
Decoration
- Royal icing for decoration
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all your ingredients and measure them accurately.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Whisk until evenly distributed.
- In another bowl, cream the softened butter and white sugar together until smooth and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together.
- Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of milk as needed to achieve a workable dough consistency.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out ornament shapes using cookie cutters.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the cut-out cookies on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Cool the cookies on the sheets for a few minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
Decoration
- Once cooled, decorate the cookies with royal icing as desired. Let them dry completely before handling.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze them up to three months. Use parchment paper between layers of cookies to prevent sticking. Consider chilling the dough before rolling it out for easier handling.