It’s that time of year again and we are so excited! Time to get the family together for an afternoon of fun Christmas cooking baking and decorating!

We found the classic sugar cookie recipe that allows you to use Christmas cutouts to really get you into the Christmas spirit! For more tips and nutritional information about this recipe, you can click here.

Cookies

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1egg
• 2 ½ cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Betty Crocker™ Decor Selects candy sprinkles, nonpareils or colored sugars, if desired

Frosting

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk or half-and-half

Directions

1. In large bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, the butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond extract and egg until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
2. Heat oven to 375°F. Divide dough in half. On lightly floured, cloth covered surface, roll each half of dough 3/16 inch thick. Cut into assorted shapes with cookie cutters, or cut around patterns traced from storybook illustrations. If cookies are to be hung as decorations, make a hole in each 1/4 inch from top with end of plastic straw. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. In a medium bowl, beat all frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Tint with food color if desired. Frost and decorate cookies as desired with frosting and colored sugars.