Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies (Soft, No Spread)

Decorating Christmas cookies is a favourite holiday tradition. This simple recipe makes soft cookies that hold their shape, so your stars and trees look as good as they taste.

Ingredients (about 24 cookies)

• 225 g (1 cup) soft butter
• 200 g (1 cup) sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 375 g (3 cups) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Method

1. Beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy.
2. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt until a dough forms.
4. Divide in two, flatten into discs, wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
5. Roll to about 5 mm thick and cut out shapes.
6. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 8–10 minutes, until the edges are just set.
7. Cool completely before decorating.

Simple icing

Mix 2 cups icing sugar with 2–3 tablespoons milk and a drop of vanilla. Add food colouring and pipe or spread onto cooled cookies.

Storing

Keep decorated cookies in an airtight tin for up to a week. Undecorated cookies and raw dough both freeze well.

Put on some festive music, set out the sprinkles and let everyone get creative.