The Ultimate Christmas Cookies

As I write this, I finally have my favorite Marshmellow Fireside candle burning (!) thanks to National Candle Day this past Saturday at Bath & Body Works. The candles, normally $24.50, were just $8.95 and I stocked up. I went in the day before coupon-less (as no one should be in that fragrant abyss of sugar and soap), and picked up a loofa and hand soap, but left candle-less. Long story short, I happily walked out with two Marshmellow Fireside candles the day after and a new Cinnamon & Clove Bud candle (that smells exactly as it sounds: delicious). 

But when it comes to writing a food related post, I always feel like I should be some 30-year-old woman living in the cold Mid-west with some backstory about how much I love brown sugar and the symbolism behind it. Food posts always seem so fake deep to me...like I don't need a dissertation about these cookies. Let me grab the recipe and move on.

 For my cookie story, it revolves around a very simple sugar cookie recipe that's been in my family for years. If you noticed the photo above, it features child-size me in the kitchen decorating the infamous sugar cookies. They're super simple to pull together and the fun comes from cutting them out and decorating them with any sprinkles I can get my hands on. 

My mom and I have been baking these cookies as early as I can remember licking the mixers clean. We have cookie cutters ranging from a turkey to a bell and even a terrier (in honor of the three that live in my house...seriously they're all over my Instagram). Once I got to high school though, I sort of took over the sugar cookie making because I've been baking since I was thirteen (and my mom had other holiday parties to prepare for). I enjoy every minute of the whole process, but sometimes my mom steps in to decorate the last cookies I'm too tired to finish myself. 

They're a family staple and represent the beginning of the holiday season to me, as I'm sure a similar tradition does for most people. These cookies make a lot of people happy and make enough to share. There's creativity and love put into every one and gives people the chance to pick out their favorite cookie when they're ready to snack. 

There's no limit to how far your imagination and some sprinkles can go with these, but I hope you have a lot of fun making them if you do. I hope you enjoyed my decorating skills too because getting sprinkles to stay on a cookie before they're baked is a lot harder than it seems. 

Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
3 sticks butter (softened)
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Add in vanilla and salt. Gradually add flour. If dough is too sticky, add some more flour.

Bake at 325 for 12-14 minutes

Merry Christmas! What's your favorite cookie at the holidays? Whether it's to eat or bake, tell me all about your favorite Christmas treats below!