In the United States a sure sign that Christmas is near is a big plate of Christmas Cookies. What we call cookies have different names in different countries. Some call them biscuits, galletas, biscotti or little cakes.
The name cookie is derived from the Dutch word koekje, meaning "small or little cake." Biscuit comes from the Latin word bis coctum, which means, "twice baked." According to culinary historians, the first historic record of a cookie was their use as test cakes. To test the cake batter, a small amount of the cake batter was baked to test the oven temperature. Someone thought they were tasty little "cakes" and the rest is history!
Here is a quick and easy recipe for a traditional Christmas sugar cookie. It is quick, easy and sure to please Santa.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on a greased baking sheet and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes after you remove them from the oven and then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling. The cookies can be served as is or you can ice as desired.
Makes around 3 dozen cookies.
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