Easy Christmas Cookies: One Dough, Three Ways

First of all, let me begin by saying these are not healthy Christmas cookies.  If you will be disappointed that this healthy foodie mama is about to share a sugary cookie recipe, then please hide your eyes!  I do not wish to offend :)  But.... it's Christmas!  There's just something special about sugar cookies at Christmas time, don't you think?

We decided to hand deliver them to each of the neighbors this year.  It was sweet watching Gentry walk up to each door, ring the bell, wait patiently, and then wish each neighbor a merry Christmas as he offered them a small box of these little tasty treats.  It warmed this mama's heart right through. 

And so we baked cookies, about 100 of them, and thought it would be nice to share our little recipe with you.

One Dough, Three Ways

for the dough:

1 1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 c all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Cream together the butter, sugar, and eggs, then stir in the vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt.

Roll out on a lightly floured board; I roll mine to about 1/4 inch height.  Cut into any shape.  I used the mouth of a stage 1 baby food jar for the small circle shapes.

Bake at 375 for exactly 8 minutes.

for the toppings:

Coconut cookies - In a measuring cup, measure one cup of powdered sugar.  Add one teaspoon coconut extract and four teaspoons milk.  Stir well, frost cookies, and top with toasted coconut before the frosting dries. (After I pull the last batch of cookies from the oven, I add a handful of coconut onto the baking sheet and set it under the broiler for a minute to toast.)

Sprinkle cookies - Prepare frosting as above, but eliminate coconut extract and add 4 -5 drops of red food coloring instead.  Top with sprinkles.

Chocolate almond cookies - Pour one cup of chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir, and then microwave for another 30 seconds.  Stir again until all chips have lost their shape and you have a bowl of melted chocolate.  Dip cookies one by one into the chocolate and then into finely chopped almonds.

What are your favorite Christmas cookies to bake?  I'd love to know!  And, if you have the time, join me for a Parade of Christmas!

            Warmly,

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Shared at Raising Homemakers, Making Your Home Sing, and also at: