Santa Claus Sugar Cookies

 

DESSERT

  

Total Time: 55 mins + chilling

Prep Time: 45 mins + chilling

Bake Time: 10 mins

Yield: 4 Dozen

Dish Size: 13x9-Inch Lid-Its®

 

INGREDIENTS

 

Cookies

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp salt

 

Frosting

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 Tbsp 2% milk
  • 2¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 6¾ cups confectioners' sugar
  • optional decorations: red colored sugar, miniature semisweet chocolate chips, and Red Hots

  

Directions

 

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, nutmeg, and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
  2. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut with a floured 3-inch Santa-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on greased temp-tations® 13x9-inch Lid-Its®.
  4. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Remove cookies from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  5. For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in milk, vanilla, and salt. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pipe onto cookies and decorate as desired.

 

This recipe is from my Taste of Home: temp-tations Holiday Cookbook!