Holiday Sugar Cookies are a timeless favorite, perfect for adding a festive touch to your celebrations. These cookies are soft, sweet, and easy to shape into various holiday-themed designs, making them a fun and delicious project for the whole family. With a simple dough that’s easy to work with and a delightful flavor that can be customized with your favorite extracts, these cookies will surely become a staple in your holiday baking tradition.
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Holiday Sugar Cookies
Food History
Sugar cookies have been a beloved part of American holiday traditions for generations. Originating in the mid-1700s, these cookies were first popularized in Pennsylvania by German settlers known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. Their early versions, known as Nazareth cookies, were made with simple ingredients like sugar, flour, butter, eggs, and a leavening agent, creating a crisp, tender cookie that could be easily shaped and decorated.
By the 19th century, sugar cookies had become a popular treat across the United States, particularly during the holiday season. Their versatility and ease of preparation made them ideal for baking in large batches, decorating with colorful icing and sprinkles, and sharing with friends and family. The tradition of cutting sugar cookies into festive shapes, such as stars, trees, and snowflakes, became especially popular during Christmas, adding to the joy and spirit of the season.
Craving sugar cookies? Check out our recipe round-up for the best, buttery, and perfectly sweet versions to bake up today!
Read more about the history of Sugar Cookies, more recipes, and baking tips.
Timeline
- Mid-1700s: German settlers in Pennsylvania, known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, popularize the sugar cookie, creating what would become known as the Nazareth cookie.
- 19th Century: Sugar cookies become a staple in American holiday baking, loved for their simplicity and versatility. They are often shaped into festive designs and decorated with icing and sprinkles.
- 20th Century: The tradition of baking and decorating sugar cookies during the holidays becomes widespread, with families passing down recipes and techniques through generations.
- Present Day: Holiday sugar cookies remain a favorite treat, enjoyed for their nostalgic flavor and the creative possibilities they offer for decorating and personalization.
Recipe Discussion
This Holiday Sugar Cookies recipe is a classic, offering a simple yet delicious dough that’s perfect for rolling and cutting into festive shapes. The recipe begins by creaming shortening and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial for creating a smooth, tender dough that will bake evenly and hold its shape.
An egg is then beaten into the creamed mixture, adding richness and helping to bind the ingredients together. The flavoring is added next—this can be vanilla, almond, or any other extract you prefer, allowing you to customize the flavor of your cookies to suit your taste. The dry ingredients, including sifted flour and baking powder, are mixed together and then added to the creamed mixture along with the milk. The milk helps to create a soft, pliable dough that’s easy to work with.
Once the dough is mixed, it’s chilled in the refrigerator for several hours. Chilling the dough is essential, as it firms up the fat (shortening), making the dough easier to roll and helping the cookies maintain their shape during baking. After chilling, the dough is rolled out on a lightly floured board to your desired thickness—the thickness of the dough will determine how crisp or soft the cookies turn out. The dough is then cut into shapes using cookie cutters, and the cookies are baked on an ungreased baking sheet at 375°F for about 10 minutes, or until they are lightly golden.
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Preparation Tips
- Chilling the Dough: Don’t skip the step of chilling the dough. It not only makes the dough easier to roll out but also prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they retain their shape.
- Rolling the Dough: Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking. The thickness of the dough will determine the texture of the cookies—thicker dough will yield softer cookies, while thinner dough will result in crispier cookies.
- Baking Time: Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake. They should be removed from the oven when they are just starting to turn golden around the edges. Overbaking will result in a harder, less tender cookie.
Recommended Kitchen Items
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- Cookie Cutters: Invest in a set of holiday-themed cookie cutters to create festive shapes like stars, trees, and snowflakes. Stainless steel cutters are durable and create clean edges.
- Rolling Pin: A good rolling pin is essential for evenly rolling out your dough. Look for one that’s comfortable to handle and easy to clean.
- Baking Sheets: High-quality, heavy-duty baking sheets ensure even baking and help prevent the bottoms of the cookies from burning.
Serving Suggestions
- Decorated with Icing: Once the cookies have cooled, decorate them with your favorite icing and sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Paired with Hot Cocoa: Serve these cookies with a cup of hot cocoa or mulled cider for a cozy holiday treat.
- Gift-Wrapped: Package these cookies in a decorative tin or box and give them as gifts to friends and family during the holiday season.
A Festive Treat for All Occasions
Holiday Sugar Cookies are more than just a sweet treat—they’re a cherished tradition that brings joy and creativity to the holiday season. Whether you’re baking them with loved ones or enjoying them as a solo project, these cookies are sure to add a special touch to your celebrations. With their simple ingredients and classic flavor, they’re the perfect canvas for your festive imagination, making them a must-have in your holiday baking repertoire.
Sweet, simple, and oh-so-fun! Celebrate National Sugar Cookie Day on July 9th with a batch of these classic treats—decorate, bake, and enjoy!
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Holiday Sugar Cookies Recipe
Holiday Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 cup siftered flour
- 2 t baking powder
- 1 t flavoring
- ¼ cup mlk
Instructions
- Cream - shortening, sugar and cream until light.
- Beat - egg add to cream mixture, mixing well.
- Add - flavoring. Sift - dry ingredients together then add with milk.
- Chill - dough in refrigerator for [several hours].
- This makes the dough easier to roll.
- Roll - dough on lightly floured board.
- Thickness of the dough determines the crispness of the cookies.
- Cut - in fancy shapes with slightly flour cookie cutter.
- Bake - on ungreased baking sheet 375°F for 10 min.
Notes
NOTE: cool cookies sheets before using again.
Yield 6 dozen medium cookies.