One of my favorite holiday traditions growing up was the day my mom would take to make and decorate Christmas cookies. It’s a wonderfully messy, chaotic tradition I’ve carried on with my own kids and they love it and I do too… even though, let’s be honest, the flour everywhere and hands all over the dough make me just a wee bit crazy 😉 Here’s our favorite cookie recipe :

Christmas Cookies

Yield: approx. 3 dozen

Ingredients

1 c. butter (2 sticks)
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
4 Tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
4 c. flour

 

Instructions

Cream butter and sugar in mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, vanilla, baking soda, milk and nutmeg. Mix well.
Add flour 1/2 c. at a time with mixer on low speed until combined.

Divide dough into 3 balls, wrap with plastic wrap, chill 2 hours.

Roll dough on a generously floured surface.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until edges begin to turn golden.

Cool and decorate as desired!

Notes

I like roll the dough to 1/4-1/2″ thickness for a thick, cake-y cookie.
You can also roll thinner for a crispier cookie.

This is the BEST icing recipe I’ve found… and best tasting it’s true! Note that it will be on the runny side at first… add more powdered sugar as needed… but it dries beautifully smooth and shiny.

Happy baking!