Sugar Cookie Ornaments

By The Good Housekeeping Test KitchenPublished: Nov 20, 2017

Mike Garten

Yields:

Total Time:

1 hr

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These classic Christmas cookies are a 2-for-1 deal — a delicious treat and a homemade tree decoration. Punch a hole before baking to create edible hangers. Once baked and decorated, add a ribbon and hang on your tree.

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Ingredients

Cookies

2 3/4 cups
all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp.
baking powder
1/4 tsp.
Kosher salt
1 cup
unsalted butter
3/4 cup
granulated sugar
1
large egg
1 1/2 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
Sanding sugar, for decorating

Royal Icing

3
large egg whites
1/2 tsp.
cream of tartar
16 oz.
confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Step 1 In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
2. Step 2Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then vanilla.
3. Step 3 Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Shape dough into 4 disks and roll each between 2 sheets parchment paper to 1⁄4 inch thick. Chill until firm, 30 minutes in refrigerator or 15 minutes in freezer.
4. Step 4Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using floured cookie cutters, cut out cookies. If desired, use straw to make holes in tops of cookies for hanging. Place on pre- pared sheets. Reroll, chill and cut scraps.
5. Step 5Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are light golden brown around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Step 6Make Royal Icing: Using electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium-high speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until just incorporated. Increase speed to high and beat until medium-stiff glossy peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Tint as desired with gel food coloring.
7. Step 7Decorate as desired with icing and sanding sugar.

Nutritional information (for undecorated cookie): About 70 calories, 4 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 1 g protein, 20 mg sodium, 8 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber.

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