Chocolate Stuffed Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipes

CLASSIC CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIE CUTOUTS

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, the butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond extract and egg until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Divide dough in half. On lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough 3/16 inch thick. Cut into assorted shapes with cookie cutters, or cut around patterns traced from storybook illustrations. If cookies are to be hung as decorations, make a hole in each 1/4 inch from top with end of plastic straw. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat all frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Tint with food color if desired. Frost and decorate cookies as desired with frosting and colored sugars.

SANTA CLAUS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, nutmeg and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. Santa-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in milk, vanilla and salt. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Pipe onto cookies and decorate as desired.

CHOCOLATE-STUFFED SNICKERDOODLES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon. Remove 2 tablespoons of mixture to second small bowl; reserve.
• In large bowl, stir cookie mix, flour, softened butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Shape dough into 20 (1 1/2-inch) balls. Flatten each ball to 2 1/2-inch circle. Press 1 chocolate into center of each cookie, making sure to form dough around chocolate to enclose; reshape into balls. Roll in remaining sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased large cookie sheets. Discard sugar-cinnamon mixture after rolling balls.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set and light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Sprinkle reserved 2 tablespoons sugar-cinnamon mixture on tops of warm cookies. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.

CHOCOLATE-STUFFED CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, shortening and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.
• Heat oven to 400° F. Roll half of dough into 13x9-inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Place mints on dough, forming 6 uniform rows of 6. Roll remaining dough into 13x9-inch rectangle on floured waxed paper. Place over mint-covered dough. Cut dough between mints with pastry wheel or knife; press edges of each "package" with fingers or fork to seal. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Decorate tops of each package with icings to form ribbon and bow.