Playing with my sugar cookies

Every Christmas I like to make sugar cookies.  It's just one of those classic treats that's a must-have at Christmas, particularly if you have children.  I don't make roll-out cookies that often during the year but come December, it's time to dig out the star, tree, gingerbread man, and assorted holiday cookie cutters.  And like my husband likes to say (and I agree), sugar cookies may not be something you crave but once you eat one, you're reminded of how simply delicious they are.  I love making room to revisit them every Christmas.

I wasn't planning on posting about my sugar cookie-making adventure but I did a couple of fun new things that I wanted to share! 

Breaking a little from routine, I tried something very simple that might change the game as far as sugar cookie-decorating goes for me.  Typically, I decorate my sugar cookies with sprinkles or sanding sugar.  On occasion, I'll use royal icing (more on that later).  But last year, I read an article from Alice Medrich that suggested a genius idea that's totally up my alley: use straight up chocolate to decorate your cookies!

Decorate your holiday cookies with chocolate!  Needless to say, it's delicious!

Hello, I'm a chocoholic - why hadn't I thought of that!  I didn't get a chance to test out this idea last Christmas but I did it with this year's batch of sugar cookies.  Oh boy - it's easy, it's delicious, and it's something I'll be doing from now on!  

I used dark chocolate but you could certainly try white chocolate if you prefer.  I simply melted a bit of chocolate in the microwave, put it into a plastic sandwich bag, nipped a small corner, and went at it.  It was surprisingly easy to handle and frankly, melting some chocolate is a lot easier than making royal icing.  And if you (or your kids) like to go crazy with decorating and tend to pile on the icing, your cookies are still sure to taste delicious because you're loading them up with pure chocolate.  It's a genius little idea and I hope you give it a try!  This is my public service announcement for the holiday season.  : ) 

Having a little more fun with my cookies...I also took an idea I saw just a few days ago from Sweet Paul magazine's instagram feed for 3-D Christmas tree sugar cookies. Using my usual sugar cookie dough - the same recipe I've been using for years - I simply took a plain round cookie cutter to cut a round that serves as the base for the tree.  Then use a paring knife and cut a rectangle or slot in the middle of the round (before baking) to make a place for the tree to "stand" in.  

How fun is that!  I love finding simple ideas that don't take much extra effort but allow you to put a fun new spin on an old routine.  It's a neat little trick to wow the kids and it's fun to plop one of these in the middle of your cookie platter.  

I had fun playing with my batch of sugar cookie dough this year.  If you are planning to roll and cut cookies this holiday season, maybe you'll try one of these little fun twists.


So I mentioned royal icing...and it reminded me of this cookie decorating party I had last year.  

I had some kids over to decorate sugar cookies.  I made sugar cookie cut-outs, a few colors of royal icing and laid out some candy toppings, and the kids went at it.  

A cookie-decorating fest at my house last Christmas

Don't get me wrong, traditional icing like royal icing is colorful and fun (as you can see below)... 

The colorful results the kids created...and ate heartily!

...but given the choice, I would personally prefer to eat cookies decorated with pure chocolate.  We've already happily polished off most of the ones you see below today.

There's certainly no right or wrong way to decorate cookies.  The only "rule" is to have fun and if you end up with a delicious result, all the better!

Happy holiday baking!


Recipes:

Sugar cookie recipe I use can be found: here
My trick is to add a splash (2-3 teaspoons only) of whole milk right at the end of mixing to bring the dough together.  It turns out smooth and easy to roll!

To decorate cookies with chocolate: See Alice Medrich's article on Food52
Essentially, you simply melt some chocolate and place it into a sandwich bag, then cut a small tip and start decorating.

3-D Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies: Idea/instructions from Sweet Paul magazine.  I used the sugar cookie recipe listed above.