Raford Inn Christmas Cookie Recipe

The Raford Inn Basic Christmas Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Assorted candies, sprinkles or colored sugars for decorating

Directions:

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.

With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half, flatten into disks and wrap in plastic; freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove dough; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick, dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer to prepared baking sheets.

Bake, rotating half way until edges are golden, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks. To ice cookies, spread with the back of a spoon. let icing harden about 20 minutes, decorate as desired.

Icing Recipe

1 pound powdered sugar

2 egg whites

pinch of salt

few drops of almond or vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix until icing holds a ribbon like trail on the surface of the mixture for 5 seconds when you raise the paddle...this may take 10 minutes or more at medium speed.