Santa Sugar Cookies

 

Christmas just isn't Christmas without yummy cookies!

Our family is full of sugar cookie junkies. Our cute mom saw some cute Santa cookies at a local Kneaders restaurant and decided that she could easily make her own. These cookies were a huge hit at our party and if you need a darling cookie for a cookie exchange, this is your go-to cookie!

Our mom makes a killer sugar cookie- they are incredibly soft and delicious (the secret ingredient- sour cream!).

Santa Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup margarine, softened*
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
4 cups flour


Directions:
Mix margarine, eggs, and sugar until well blended.  Add baking powder, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and sour cream and stir well.  Add flour and gently combine.  If too sticky, add just a little more flour and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.  Roll out dough on a floured surface and cut with a circle cookie cutter (I used a 2 3/4 in diameter circle cookie cutter).  Bake at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes (you don't want to overcook them!). Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
*You can use butter, but the margarine makes them more soft and fluffy. The butter tends to make a flatter cookie.

Now to make the cookies look like Santa . . .

Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, melted
3 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar (depending on how thick you like it)
1 Tablespoon milk

Combine all ingredients and mix well.  If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar and if it's too thick, add a little more milk.

Santa Decorations:
Red sugar crystals (red Santa hat)
Chocolate chips  (eyes)
Cinnamon Red Hots candies (nose)
Mini marshmallows  (pom pom for hat)
shredded coconut  (beard)

Frost the cookie and immediately after, sprinkle the top third of the cookie with red sugar crystals (we held the edge of a little bowl to cover the rest of the cookie while we sprinkled the crystals on and it gave the hat a rounded edge). Next, sprinkle the bottom third of the cookie with coconut (and come a little up each edge to meet the hat) to make Santa's beard. If your frosting dried quickly, you can put a drop of water on your finger and spread it on the frosting- the coconut should stick perfectly after that. Place a marshmallow on the end of the hat, the chocolate chips for the eyes, and the red hot for Santa's nose. 

Need some more Christmas treats?

Chubby Hubby Truffles

Andes Mint Grinch Cookies

English Toffee

Crock Pot Nut Clusters

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies