Traditional Rolled Sugar Cookies with a New Twist

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”-Burton Hills

Merry Christmas! When I was growing up we had a tradition of making rolled sugar cookies every Christmas. The recipe I am sharing today is the recipe my family has used for decades. I have no idea where the recipe originated but I remember my grandmother and mother making them and I did the same with my children when they were young. This year I baked them with my daughters and two of my three grand children for the first time, but we added a little twist to the family tradition.
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Traditional Rolled Sugar Cookies with a New Twist:

So What is the Twist?

Unlike the cookies we made when we were young, we are skipping the artificial food dyes in favor of all natural vegetable dye food coloring. (<–affiliate link) The colors are beautiful and there are no worries about children consuming the nasty chemicals found in artificially enhanced food colorings. I used this powdered coloring made with vegetables. 

Times Change but Traditions Don’t Have To…

So put on the Christmas music, pull out the stand mixer, the rolling pin, and a set of little bowls and make some cookies with your family. It’s something they will always remember. I know I will.

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”

-Roy L. Smith

“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.”

-Larry Wilde

“A balanced diet is a Christmas cookie in each hand”

~ Author Unknown

Traditional Rolled Sugar Cookies with a New Twist:

You will need: A mixer, a rolling pin, vanilla paste, cookie cutters, all natural vegetable dye food coloring (I used this powdered coloring made with vegetables) and cookie sheets. If you want to make this recipe gluten free I recommend Gluten Free Jovial Pastry Flour (affiliate links)

5 from 2 votes

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Traditional Rolled Sugar Cookies with a New Twist

Prep Time

1 hr

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

1 hr 10 mins

 

Traditional sugar cookies, cut with cookie cutters and iced with naturally colored frosting.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy dessert recipe, holiday recipe, kid-friendly recipes

Servings: 24 cookies

Author: Linda Spiker

Ingredients

For Cookies:

• 2 Cups sifted flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 Cup butter room temp
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg well beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
• 1 Tablespoon milk or almond milk

For Icing:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 6 Tablespoons milk or vanilla almond milk

Instructions

Cookie Instructions:

1. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.

2. In a mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, and milk.

3. Add sifted dry ingredients gradually until dough is stiff enough to handle. Form into a ball, wrap in plastic. Chill at least 1 hour

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove dough from the fridge, cut dough in half and place one half back into the fridge.

5. Sprinkle flour onto counter top. Use a rolling pin to roll dough 1/4 inch thick, cut with cookie cutters. Place cut cookies on un-greased cookie sheet. Form leftover dough into a ball again and roll again, cut with cookie cutters, until all dough is used. Repeat with remaining dough in the refrgerator.

6. Bake for 10 minutes.

For Frosting:

1. Use a mixer to blend butter and sugar till smooth, add milk and continue mixing. Separate into small bowls and add food coloring if desired. Frost cookies.

Recipe Notes

Of course this recipe can be used for any holiday. Just use whatever shape cookie cutters that best fit the holiday!

~ Linda Spiker