Christmas Light Sugar Cookies
The perfect sugar cookie made with Hiland Dairy ingredients topped with the best cream cheese frosting then transformed into a super fun Christmas Cookie. Super easy to make and a great activity to do with your kiddos!
Ingredients
Cookies
3/4 cup Hiland Butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
2 blocks (16 ounces) Hiland Cream Cheese
1 stick Hiland Butter
3 – 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Black food coloring or gel
M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with Silpat or spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Using a mixer, beat the butter on high until it’s smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat again on high for 2-3 minutes, until it becomes light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla and almond extract, and mix again until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low until just combined. Add the rest of the flour mixture and mix until just combined again. If your dough looks super sticky, just add another tablespoon of flour.
- On lightly floured parchment paper, roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thickness. If you want a crunchier cookie, just roll the dough thinner. Cover your dough with another piece of parchment paper and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
- Once the dough is chilled, grab your cookie cutters and go to town. Place your shapes onto a lightly greased or Silpat-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I prefer 8 minutes because they will be softer, but leave them in longer for a crunchier cookie. Place on a wire cooling rack and let cool completely before you frost and decorate.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Add the vanilla and salt and mix on medium to high until creamy. Taste it to see if it needs more powdered sugar for sweetness/thickness.
- Frost cooled cookies with cream cheese frosting and set aside.
- In a small bowl, place a heaping spoonful of cream cheese frosting plus a few drops of black food coloring or gel. Mix until smooth.
- Use a pastry bag or Ziploc with the tip cut off. Place black frosting into bag and pipe swooping lines onto cookies.
- Place different colored M&Ms on top of the black lines to make your Christmas lights!