with our little family being so young, we are always looking to build holiday traditions. david and i made homemade cinnamon rolls the first christmas we were married, and it's been something we've done for christmas ever since. i want ava to grow up rooted in traditions and i want her to be able to look back on her life and have warm memories of her childhood surrounded by people who love her. isn't that what it's all about?
we are lucky to live minutes away from david's family and we decided to get together and decorate sugar cookies. hopefully this will become a new christmas tradition for us because i kid you not when i tell you that these are the best sugar cookies in the land. and sorry if you judge me over this, but i ate EIGHT of them in a span of three hours. it was like "oh i should try them to see how they are..." and then "oh dang these are good, i wonder how this frosting tastes..." and then "maybe just one more while i decorate another cookie..." and then "oh i'll just grab another one while i'm walking through the kitchen..." i kind of thought everyone was eating eight of them, but then i asked david how many he ate and he said two and i felt really silly. one time he described my eating habits as "emma is just a bottomless pit..." which is a really lovely way to have your husband describe you. ha.
my sister-in-law sarah made the cookies and i brought the frosting. i made two different kinds, a cream cheese and my favorite buttercream frosting. i don't really have a preference, i think they are both the best frostings you can make. so christmas traditions are waiting to be made! go find yourself some family and friends and bake up a batch of these lovelies and try to outeat my record of eight cookies in three hours. it probably wouldn't be too hard because they are so so so good. promise!!!
the best, softest, yummiest, most nom-able sugar cookies in the world
1 c. Soft margarine (not butter!)
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 c sour cream with 1 tsp baking soda dissolved in it
5 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1. Sift together flour baking powder and salt - set aside
2. Cream margarine and sugar
Add in eggs one at a time
Add vanilla
Add sour cream & baking soda mix
Add in dry ingredients.
3. Split in half. I shape mine into rectangles and wrap in Saran Wrap. Chill overnight. Dough is soft and sticky. Use plenty of flour to roll and cut into desired shapes.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 mins.
cream cheese frosting
1 stick of butter at room temperature
1 block of cream cheese at room temperature
2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
splash of heavy cream
1. mix butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer until well-combined. add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
2. slowly incorporate powdered sugar. mix slowly until combined.
3. add extra 1/2 tsp. of vanilla and splash of heavy cream and turn mixer on high for about 10 seconds, letting the frosting get totally smooth.
favorite buttercream recipe found here.