Christmas Cookies

Merry music has begun playing across town, vibrant lights adorn houses, and glowing trees can be seen through the windows. The holiday season is quickly approaching, as the time to prepare is dwindling. With the shortness of time comes the need for quick and easy last-minute cooking ideas. These dessert ideas are easy to bake and will keep you out of the kitchen and celebrating the holiday season!

Gingerbread Cookies

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Pour the ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, and flour into a bowl and mix. Place aside. Using an electric mixer at medium speed, mix the butter and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add egg, molasses, and vanilla. Mix well. Taking the flour mixture, slowly beat it into your sugar mixture. Roll your dough into a flat disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.  

Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Pull your dough from the fridge and roll it into ¼ thickness. Cut into gingerbread men shapes. Place on a baking sheet and pan. Cookf ro 6-10 minutes. Decorate!

Snickerdoodles

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
• ½ cup of vegetable shortening
• 1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon fine salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Put the butter, vegetable shortening, eggs, and ½ cup of sugar into a bowl. Mix using an electric mixer at medium speed until it becomes a smooth and creamy consistency. Mix the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt and them pour it into the shortening mixture, stirring it with the other ingredients.

In a separate small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon.

Sculpt the dough into balls and roll it in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place a baking sheet on a pan.Place the dough balls on top. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes so that the inside is soft but the outside well cooked.

Sugar Cookies

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 9 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• 1//4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon of milk

Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Place it aside. Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and then mix with an electric mixer until it has a light color. Add egg and milk and beat together. Add the flour slowly by putting the mixture on low speed. Beat until the mixture does not stick to the side. Divide the dough in half, wrap it in wax paper, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Set the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Lightly coat the counter with powder sugar or flour. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Using a rolling pin, roll it on the counter to a thickness of ¼ inch. Using a cookie cutter, shape the cookies into a shape. Place the cookies on a cookie sheet that has wax paper on it and bake for 7-9 minutes. Let them cool. Decorate!

All in all, whether you are baking with friends or preparing for a gathering, these holiday cookies are guaranteed to satisfy the crowd. With easy to follow steps and a fairly quick baking time, these recipes are perfect for anyone alike.