Amish Christmas Cookies

  { Preparation & Cooking Time : 55 Min }
         Difficulty : Easy
        Meal Type : Cookies
              Serves : 8-10
            Cuisines : World

    Ingredients
 • 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
 • 2 teaspoons baking powder
 • 1 ½ cups sugar
 • 2 eggs
 • 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
 • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 • Colored Icing, recipe follows

   Preparation Method 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .In a bowl, stir together flour and baking powder.
  In another bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  Stir in flour mixture, a third at a time to make a stiff dough.

2. Now divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick.
  Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets.

3. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minute, rotating baking sheet halfway through
  cooking time. Cool completely on pans about 5 minutes, transfer to cooling racks and
  cool completely before decorating.

  FOR COLORED ICING:
 • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
 • 1 ½ tablespoons water
 • 3 to 4 drops food coloring, plus more as needed
 • Colored sprinkles, optional
   
   Preparation Method
4. In a small bowl, mix sugar and water to form a thick smooth icing. 
  Stir in food coloring to reach desired shade.

5. Now drop icing onto cookies using a small teaspoon and smooth with the back of the
  spoon. 

6. Make additional bowls for additional colors. Additional multi-colored sprinkles can be
  added on top of Icing before it dries for more decorative cookies, if desired.

        ENJOY