Virtual Cookie Exchange 2010

I’m participating in a Virtual Cookie Exchange with the lovely lady over at Our Plain and Simple Life.  I’m not sure how often I will post since I’m busy actually baking the recipes I’m sharing, but here goes the first one.

This sugar cookie recipe is the best.  I’ve already got a batch of dough in the freezer waiting to be rolled out.  Once baked and well wrapped these keep well for a very long time (in a cool place).  They freeze well too.

Sugar Cookies -makes 15 dozen 2 inch cookies

1 lb butter                  2 eggs

pinch of salt              2T vanilla

2 c white sugar       5 c flour

Cream butter and sugar then beat in eggs and vanilla.  Add salt and flour and mix well.  Chill for at least an hour (I usually do overnight).  Roll out 1/4 inch and cut and put on lined cookie sheets.  For easy decoration, mix egg yolks with food colouring and paint the cookies.  Ella’s going to have great fun doing that this year.

Bake 350F for 10-12 minutes

 

This next recipe is for shortbread cookies.  These make the best shortbread I’ve ever had (if I do say so myself).  It’s another of my Great Grandma Heard’s recipes.  Follow the instructions, it does make a difference.  These cookies are better made a bit ahead of time.  They also keep well -if I hide them well!

Shortbread Cookies -makes 100 cookies

1 c butter, well-creamed but not oily                       1/2 c cornstarch

1/2 c icing sugar         2 c flour

1/2 t salt

Sift the dry ingredients 4 times.  Mix with the creamed butter.  Knead until it cracks.  Roll 1/3 inch thick.

Bake 325F for 20 min.

 

Have you heard the George Strait song “Christmas Cookies”?  It always makes me smile because it’s Colin’s theme song.  Cookies must get packed away shortly after cooling or there would be none for the cookie boxes.