Santa Sugar Cookies

Today we made Santa Cookies.

We used my mom's favorite sugar cookie recipe and cut out stars for the Santa bodies.

Then came the decorating part... Let's just say that the red food coloring we used did not produce a vibrant red hue like we had hoped...  

BUT we did successfully pull off a very nice hot pink :P

As you can see, Mrs. Claus revamped Santa's wardrobe this year.  

Then, I ran out of black frosting, so Santa got a purty silver sparkle belt instead.  It's the year of Santa's fashion overhaul!  Hope you like it as much as I do! :)

Santa Sugar Cookie Recipe

Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen

*Warning: these take a really long time to make, but are fun!*

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

2-4 Tbsp milk

red food coloring (NOT Wilton gel...)

1 tube (4.25 oz) black decorating icing

1 tube (4.25 oz) white decorating icing

1 tube (4.25 oz) yellow decorating icing

red mini M&M's

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.  In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, using a mixer set on medium, beat granulated sugar and butter.  Stir in egg, sour cream and vanilla.  Add flour mixture, stirring until a dough forms.

On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness.  Using a large star cookie cutter, cut out shapes; place on prepared baking sheets.  Bake until edges are golden, 8-10 minutes.  Transfer cookies to racks immediately; cool completely.

In a bowl, combine powdered sugar and enough milk to make a thin icing; tint red.  Spoon icing over the hat and suit portion of cookies; set aside to dry completely, about 1 hour.

Using the black icing fitted with a writing tip, pipe the mittens and boots.  Pipe a black belt on each cookie.

Using the white icing fitted with a small star tip, pipe the beard and fringe details.

Press red M&M's onto beards for the mouths.   Pipe on white icing for the eyes; pipe black icing for eye centers.  Using the yellow icing fitted with a writing tip, pipe buckles onto belts.