Santa Claus Sugar Cookies

Every time I read a rolled cookie dough recipe that calls to chill the dough for 1 hour I cringe.  Try explaining to a 3 year old that we have to let the dough chill for an hour before we can roll the dough and use the cookie cutters.  OK I admit, I'm impatient too.  Here's a way to get the dough cooked and cookies cut into shapes so you can get decorating without waiting the hour to chill the dough.

Yes, Santas can have blue hats....never argue with a 3 year old!

You can use your favorite sugar cookie dough recipe or follow this one here:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream sugar and butter in a large bowl.  Add in egg and vanilla.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder and gradually add to creamed mixture.
4. Beat well until dough is well mixed.  See below for baking instructions......

Decorating Materials:

• Confectioners sugar
• Twizzlers
• M&M's or other small candies
• Mini Marshmallows

Here's the trick to not chilling the dough....

1. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.  
2. With a spatula, spread the dough evenly until the dough is approximately 1/2 inch thick.  This can be a little tricky but it works, try dipping your spatula in water so the dough doesn't stick as much.
3. Bake for 8-10 minutes until slightly golden.  Let cool 15 minutes.
4. Using a drinking glass (or round cookie cutter if you have one) cut discs out of cooked dough.

Wala, you have Santa's to decorate!  The extra cooked cookie pieces shouldn't go to waste....put them in a baggie and enjoy nibbles with coffee :)
Lucy~