CHRISTMAS RECIPES > CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter or hard margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon cardamom, optional
1/4 teaspoon salt

Method:

Cream butter and sugar in large bowl. Add egg and vanilla. Beat. Mix remaining ingredients in separate bowl. Stir into batter. Roll out 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into rounds or different shapes. Bake on greased cookie sheet in 350F (175C) oven for about 10 minutes. Cool. Decorate. Makes 7 dozen cookies

Variation: For plain sugar cookies, sprinkle with granulated sugar before baking.

Variation: For decorated sugar cookies, sprinkle with colored sugar or sprinkles before baking or decorate baked cookies with icing.