These easy-to-make cookies can be eaten plain or with added decorations like sprinkles, candies,
chocolate chips, gumdrops, jelly tots or chopped candy canes.
By Kathryn McLean
One of my children’s favourite activities this time of year is baking and decorating cookies together. A recipe I turn to time after time is the one below. This recipe is quite forgiving: it doesn’t mind flour being added during rolling, the dough can easily be pinched back together if a gingerbread arm comes off before baking, and off-cuts can easily be squeezed back together and rolled out again.
It’s perfect for beginners and children to work with, as well as those with more rolling pin experience. Originally from an issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, it’s a classic at my house.
The ingredient list is short and it comes together quickly in a bowl with a wooden spoon or in a food processor or with a stand mixer. Because it’s such a simple recipe, kids can make the dough themselves.
You can use the base recipe as is or you can add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or vanilla extract or orange or lemon zest. Once the dough is mixed and all the ingredients have come together, flatten it into a disk shape and store it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
This is where the dough is easy to work with. The combination of butter and cream cheese make this a soft dough that is easy to roll out with a rolling pin. Just be sure to add a little flour if the dough starts to stick to the counter or rolling pin.
Once baked, the cookies can be eaten plain or with added decoration. Consider using royal icing with sprinkles or candies. Small candies like Nerds work well, and so do Smarties, chocolate chips, gumdrops or jelly tots, and chopped candy canes.
Whatever you like, really. You can also try a dusting of icing sugar or cocoa, or sandwich two matching shapes with jam or Nutella.
If you don’t want a plain cookie, but also don’t want to decorate, try add-ins before rolling and cutting the dough. Add chocolate, nuts or chopped dried fruit like currants or cranberries.
Festive Cookie Recipe
Ingredients:
¾ cup butter, room temperature
¼ cup cream cheese
¾ cup white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
Instructions:
Beat the butter, cream cheese and sugar with a spoon, spatula, mixer or in a food processor until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt and blend well to incorporate all the flour.
Gather the dough and press into a large disk. Wrap in plastic, store in a plastic bag, or place it on a plate covered with another plate and store in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Lightly flour the area of the counter or table you’re working on, and gently roll the dough to ¼” to ⅛” thickness.
Use cookie cutters to cut the dough, then place cutouts on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the bottoms are turning light grown. The cookies may need more time to bake if they’re thicker.
Lift the cookies onto a cooling rack and let them cool before icing. Then you can decorate to your heart’s content. Bon appétit!