DESSERT
Total Time: 55 mins + chilling
Prep Time: 45 mins + chilling
Bake Time: 10 mins
Yield: 4 Dozen
INGREDIENTS
for the 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
for the 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
- 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.
- Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.
- 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®.
- 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.
- 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.