My Family’s Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes

One of my favorite things about Christmas are the family traditions you create!  Even though we do Christmas a little differently now that we are all adults, I know I can always count on certain things to stay the same.  One of those things are the kinds of Christmas cookies my mom makes.  There are three family favorites that I know will always make an appearance at our house.  Today I am going to share with you those three cookie recipes we love so much!

Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies – this recipe comes from a church cookbook my mom has had for years!

Ingredients

• 4 c flour
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 2 pinches salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Sift together flour, soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar together until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. Add sifted mixture to creamed mixture and mix until combined.
5. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on floured surface and cut into desired shapes.
6. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet until golden, about 10 minutes.

For the Icing:

• 3 3/4 c powdered sugar
• 1/2 c butter, softened
• 3 to 4 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large bowl with electric mixer at low speed, combine sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. Beat at medium speed 1 to 2 minutes until creamy. If desired, add more milk until frosting is spreading consistency.  Add food coloring to make colors of choice.

Thumbprint Cookies – this recipe my Nannie (mom’s mother) learned from a neighbor of hers when she and Papa lived in Maryland when they were first married.

Ingredients

• 1/2 c shortening
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 c flour
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together shortening, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla. Add in flour and mix.
3. Roll 1 tsp dough into balls – dip in egg white (makes the cookies brown nicely).
4. On ungreased cookie sheet – bake cookies for 5 minutes, then press thumb into each cookie, bake another 8 minutes.

For the Icing:

• 1+ c powdered sugar
• 1-1 1/2 tbsp shortening
• Dash of salt
• 1 tsp almond extract (or more to taste)
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• Red and green food coloring

Mix all ingredients well and add food coloring to desired color.  Add icing to center of thumbprints after done baking.

Chess Bars – this recipe comes from my Gran (dad’s mom) and I believe is a pretty traditional Southern dessert recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 box butter (yellow) cake mix
• 1 stick butter
• 1 egg
• 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
• 1 lb box of powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. For the crust, soften or melt butter in bowl, add cake mix and egg. Stir until mixed together.
3. Pour batter into a lightly buttered 9 x 13 pan.
4. For the filling, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and eggs together, then pour over crust.
5. Bake bars for 30-35 minutes.

What are some of your family’s favorite Christmas cookies?

Linking up with Annie, Katie, Cait, and Lisa for their holiday link-up.