One of the most festive things to make during the holidays are Christmas cookies! Sugar cookies are the easiest cookies to decorate because colorful icing and sprinkles stick perfectly.

These cookies can be cut into stars, Santa Clauses, snowflakes, and any other cookie cutter hidden away in the baking drawer. Collect these ingredients and supplies before beginning:

3/4-cup butter softened (or margarine)
1-cup vegetable oil
1-cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1-teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1-teaspoon cream of tartar
1-teaspoon baking soda
1-teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar (for decoration)

First preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Sift the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt and set aside.

In one large mixing bowl blend together the butter, oil, confectioners’ sugar and white sugar until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and eggs. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until blended.

Roll the dough out and begin to create the Christmas shapes. Make sure the cookie dough is thick enough to withstand the decorations. Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Let bake for nine to 12 minutes in the pre-heated oven or until the edges are golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool on a baking sheet for five minutes. On a countertop place papers towels and begin to decorate the cookies with colorful icing and sprinkles!

Remember, these sugar cookies are not just reserved for Christmas celebrations. With the right cookie cutters, any holiday event can include these deliciously sweet cookies, from Halloween to Easter Sunday.

For more fun and easy recipes, visit Cydney Curtis’ Nov. 18 article, How to: Orange chicken cures hunger blues.