Advent Cookies

A fun way to look forward to Christmas is to have a cookie baking day with the children! What better way to do this than to have cut out cookies but only use star cookie cutters as we look for and wait for the Star of Bethlehem to make it's appearance. This is a very simple recipe. When the cookies are baked and cooled, decorate them with sugar the color of Advent (purples) with a few cookies with golden sugar to show what is to come. It's a great way to give the children some time in the kitchen with you and help with the excited anticipation of the holiday with a hands-on project and the Christmas story, too!

Advent Sugar Cookies
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 357 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or use vegetable oil spray. Mix together the dry ingredient and set aside. In a mixing bowl, whip together the butter and sugar until fluffy and blended. Add the egg and extracts. Stir in the flour mixture. The dough should be manageable. If not, add bits of flour as necessary.

Roll half the dough out on a lightly-floured board, about 1/4 inch thick. You can go thicker if you are working with little ones to avoid breakage. Using your star cookie cutter, cut them out as close as possible to avoid too much re-rolling of the dough. Place about an inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for approximately 8-12 minutes depending on how thick you cut the cookies. Let rest a few minutes on the baking sheet once they exit the oven. Remove to a rack to complete cooling.

Basic White Icing
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon corn syrup
Enough milk to form a spreadable icing
Gold and purple sugar or decorations.

To avoid excessive clean up, tape sheets of waxed paper down on the table for the decorating. When you are done, just carefully roll up the waxed paper and you should have an easier clean up.

Chocolate Molasses Cookies

This is an interesting combination that really works as it pleases the chocolate fiend in the family but gives off a holiday scent with the molasses. It is a rolled out cookie which works best with a basic, round cutter.

Chocolate Molasses Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup molasses
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons grated orange zest (optional)
3 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Either vegetable oil spray baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the molasses, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, and zest and mix well.

Mix together the flour and cocoa and blend into the creamed mixture with a spoon. Chill the dough for about an hour to make it easier to work with.

On a lightly-floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4th inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place about 1/2 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove to cool on racks. When cool glaze with an orange or vanilla icing.

Icing
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Enough cream or milk to form a glaze.

or:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
Enough fresh orange or lemon juice to form a glaze.