Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

*This post is sponsored by Christmas Cookies Week and sponsors 
Sprinkle Pop and YumGoogle.  All views and opinions shared are my own.*

Christmas isn't complete without making the iconic cut-out sugar cookie.  You won't need another recipe after trying these simple and soft cookies, perfect for decorating.

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies are such a versatile cookie.  I always make a batch to decorate at Christmas and again for Valentine's Day.  I also have made sugar cookies for mini-fruit pizzas at a baby shower and I love making them with my kids because they love to help cut the cookies with their favorite cookie cutters and of course decorate them.

So when you find a good sugar cookie recipe that is perfect for cookie-cutting you hold on to it, and this recipe I've held on since I was in high school!  One of my good friend's from high school mother was the Family and Consumer Science teacher at the neighboring school and I got to try this recipe for the first time one Valentine's Day.  I was never a huge fan on sugar cookies before then because I didn't think they had that much flavor and they were always too crunchy for my liking.  But this recipe I immediately was impressed with how soft they were and how they had a slightly sweet flavor.  So lucky for me I was able to get ahold of a copy of the recipe and I haven't let it go since!

Besides having a go-to Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookie recipe, I'm also sharing my go-to Frosting recipe!  This simple frosting is easy to work with and is the perfect topping to go along with some Sprinkle Pop.  I love all of the fun and unique sprinkles you can find from Sprinkle Pop.  It's nice to get a variety of sprinkle sizes in just one jar to help you be even more creative with your holiday cookie decorating.

Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup Shortening

1 cup Butter

2 cups Sugar

Add 6 Eggs and blend well.

Sift together flour mixture:

7 cups Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

4 tsp Cream of Tartar

Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture.

Add 4 tsp Vanilla and chill dough after mixing.

Roll out dough 1/4" thick and cut into cookies.  Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or just as the cookies begin to get golden edges.  Let cool 2 minutes before continuing to cool on a wire rack.  Yields 4+ dozen.

Then decorate with Frosting:

Cream together:

1 cup Shortening

1 cup Butter

Add 2 tsp Vanilla and Mix.

Add 8 cups (2# bag) of powdered sugar gradually and mix well.

Stir in 2-4 Tbsp of milk, 1 Tbsp at a time, until you get your desired consistency.

Want to know a Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookie tip?  Chill your dough a minimum of 30 minutes before you begin rolling and cutting the cookies.  It not only makes the dough easier to work with and roll out, but it helps make clean cut edges.  I loved these new ornament cookies cutters I received from Christmas Cookies Week sponsor YumGoogle.  Having a chilled dough was essential to get all of the intricate corners and edges.

I hope you too fall in love and keep this recipe like I have.  What's your favorite way to decorate sugar cookies?  Remember to Comment for a Cause and be sure to check out the rest of the Christmas Cookies being shared today as part of Christmas Cookies Week.  Also, don't forget to sign-up for our great giveaways at the bottom of the post.

#ChristmasCookiesWeek Wednesday Recipes

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• Eggnog Macarons by The Redhead Baker
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• Crispy Gingersnap Cookies by Everyday Eileen
• Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookies by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
• Irish Shortbread Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Oatmeal Cranberry Walnut Cookies by Tip Garden
• Purely Peppermint Shortbread by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Turkish Baklava by House of Nash Eats
• Vegan Peppermint Bark Madeleines by The Baking Fairy
• Waffle Iron Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal

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