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Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies: A Festive Treat to Delight Your Holiday Guests
As the holiday season approaches, kitchens around the world fill with the comforting aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Holiday baking traditions often bring us together, and there’s no better way to celebrate this joyous time than by crafting whimsical Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies. These cookies are not only delicious but also a delightful way to showcase your creativity and humor during festive gatherings. In this article, I’ll guide you through making these charming cookies that are sure to be the talk of your holiday party.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
For the Frosting
- 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 7 cups (2 pounds) confectioner’s sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk (as needed)
- Gel food coloring
- Piping bags and tips (small star tip and round tip)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough
Begin by sifting together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. This step ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and salt, crucial for achieving the perfect cookie texture.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the vegetable shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. The mixture should be light and fluffy, a process that usually takes about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add half of the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Begin to mix and pour in the buttermilk. Once the buttermilk is incorporated, add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Avoid over-mixing to ensure tender cookies. Refrigerate the dough for at least four hours or overnight. This chilling time is essential for easy rolling and cutting.
Step 2: Bake the Cookies
After chilling, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out about a quarter of the dough on a well-floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 inch, depending on your preference. Use a sweater-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the dough. Carefully transfer each cut-out to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the first sign of browning appears on the cookie surfaces. This light browning indicates that your cookies are perfectly baked. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cutting board or countertop to cool completely.
Step 3: Prepare the Frosting
While the cookies cool, prepare your frosting. In a mixer, cream together the vegetable shortening and butter until smooth. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar, one cup at a time, mixing slowly to avoid a sugar cloud in your kitchen. Add the vanilla extract and milk, as needed, to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. Divide the frosting into smaller bowls and add gel food coloring to create your desired colors.
Step 4: Decorate the Cookies
Place the frosting in piping bags fitted with your desired tips. A small star tip is perfect for creating the textured look of a cozy sweater, while a round tip works well for adding intricate details and dots. Once your cookies have cooled completely, use the prepared piping bags to create fun and festive designs on your sweater cookies. Feel free to unleash your creativity with various colors and patterns.
Step 5: Set and Store
Allow the frosting to set completely before packing and storing the cookies in an airtight container. This step ensures that your designs remain intact and fresh for your holiday festivities.
Notes
- For a variety of colors and designs, consider doubling the frosting recipe. This will provide ample frosting to experiment with different patterns and details without the worry of running out.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies are not only a delicious treat but also a delightful project that brings joy and laughter to any holiday gathering. Whether you’re hosting a cookie decorating party or gifting them as a whimsical surprise, these cookies are sure to be a hit. Enjoy the process, and happy baking!
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Begin by preparing the cookie dough. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the vegetable shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add half of the dry ingredients. Begin to mix and pour in the buttermilk. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least four hours or overnight.
- After your dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- On a well-floured surface, roll out about a quarter of the dough to a 1/8 – 1/4-inch thickness, depending on your preference. Cut out the dough using a sweater-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer each cut out to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the first sign of browning appears on the surface of the cookies. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cutting board or your counter top to cool completely.
- While the cookies cool, prepare your frosting. With a mixer, cream together the vegetable shortening and butter. Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar, one cup at a time. Mix in the vanilla extract. Add milk as needed for a smoother consistency. Divide the frosting into smaller bowls and add gel food coloring to achieve the desired colors.
- Place the frosting in a piping bag with the desired tip. A small star tip is great for the sweater texture, and a round tip is recommended for details and dots.
- Once your cookies have cooled, use the prepared piping bags to create designs on your sweater cookies.
- Allow the frosting to set before packing and storing the cookies in an airtight container.
Notes
