Christmas Sugar Cookies

These cutout Christmas Sugar Cookies have a decorating feature you can use on other Christmas cookies. Egg yolk paint! It's easier than frosting and a great cookie decorating technique.

The cookies are delicious too. Plus this Christmas cookie recipe will hold its shape during baking so your cutouts will be sharp.

Christmas Cutout Sugar Cookies Recipe

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon water
assorted colors of paste food coloring

Cream the softened butter or margarine and shortening. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and beat well.

Combine the all-purpose flour and salt and stir into the creamed mixture.

Roll one portion of the cookie dough to 1/8 inch thickness on a lightly floured cookie sheet. Cut the dough with assorted Christmas cookie cutters and remove any excess dough.

Paint designs of your choice on the cookies with the Egg Yolk Paint, using a small paintbrush.

Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 9 to 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to allow the cookies to cool completely. Repeat the procedure with the remaining dough.

Combine the egg yolk and water and mix well. Divide the mixture into several custard cups and then tint each one as desired with paste food coloring.

Be sure to add enough water to the yolk. If it's to thick the paint will peel after baking the cookies.

Keep your egg yolk paint covered until you are ready to use it. If the paint thickens, add a few drops of water and mix well. Yield: 1 1/2 tablespoons.

I'll be the first to admit that iced cookies have a better appearance but these egg paint cookies are certainly close. And they're so easy to do you'll have dozens of decorated Christmas Sugar Cookies in no time.