Personalized Holiday Cookies

The holidays are here! I love the holiday season. It is so festive and fun. I especially love baking goodies for the kids. Months ago, I saw a post on food network chef Marcela Valladolid’s Instagram page. She had made these Mexican cookies that had little sayings on them with a cookie stamp. I LOVED that idea. I immediately ordered a cookie lettering stamp on Amazon and my new obsession began!

I decided to make personalized dreidel cookies for all my friends and family. Let me tell you, they came out even cuter than imagined. I have been approached to make them and I even sold a few. Next year, I am planning to be prepared and sell them before the holidays.

Then my genius idea became even better, I thought if I can do dreidels, I can do the same thing with Christmas trees! And that my friends, is how these adorable holiday cookies came to life.

My favourite rolled cookie dough recipe is from a book called Cookie Craft by Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer. They explain how to make elaborate cookies step by step and give 4 cookie dough recipes. What I love about this dough is it is not too sweet, it rolls out perfectly and bakes quickly. I will post the recipe below.

I then decorate the cookies with melted candy melts and festive sprinkles. These Personalized Holiday Cookies are going to have you gossiping until next year’s holiday season.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Rolled Sugar Cookies

Yeild: 30-35 Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
1. Whisk together the flour and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. Using your mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until well blended.
3. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until the two are thoroughly blended.
4. If you want to add food colouring, do so now.
5. Turn the dough onto a work surface and divide it into 2-3 equal portions. For each one into a rough disk. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate (if using later on). If using right away, roll out in between 2 pieces of wax paper, and then place in fridge for 30 minutes before cutting out your shapes.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
7. Bake your cut out shapes on a baking tray lined with silicone mat. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are slightly golden.
8. Cool the cookies completely on a rack before decorating.

*RECIPE BY VALERIE PETERSON AND JANICE FRYER VIA COOKIE CRAFT.

TO DECORATE THE COOKIES
1. In a small microwave safe bowl, place 1/4 cup of candy melts (blue or green).
2. Microwave for 1 minute.
3. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
4. Spoon and spread over desired part of cookie and scrape the edges clean.
5. Place on a piece of wax paper and immediately sprinkle desired festive sprinkle mix onto the wet candy melts.
6. Once completed, place in fridge to firm up for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!