Good Sugar or Butter Cookie recipes for Christmas?

[AmberWaves]

I''m feeling festive this year, and want to make cookies for family for when we visit the various places we "hit" for the holidays this year.

I''ve got both cookie cutters and a cookie press (gift from Dad 10 years ago, so I want to make some pressed cookies for him especially) and a ton of cookie sheets. Problem is, there are absolutely too many recipes out there to choose from, and I thought I''m ask the lovely PSers to share their tried and true recipes, ones I know are good!

As for which type, I''m not sure, which is better? Butter or sugar?

So... hit me folks! Thanks for you help!

 

[Skippy123]

I have good recipe; let me dig it up.

These are so yummy; my cousins kids said this was their favorite cookie in our holiday cookie exchange.

Sugar Cookies
Recipe By : Martha Stewart

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 Cups all purpose flour -- sifted
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
8 Tablespoons butter -- unsalted(1 stick)
1 Cup sugar
1 Large egg
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
or
1 Teaspoon lemon juice -- fresh
and
1 lemon -- zest of
1/4 Pound chocolate -- semisweet
ROYAL ICING
2 Large egg whites
4 Cups confectioners sugar -- sifted
1 lemon -- Juice of
Food coloring
Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Set aside
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment,
Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy
Beat in egg
Add flour mixture, and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined
Stir in vanilla or lemon juice and zest
Wrap dough in plastic; chill about 30 minutes
Heat oven to 325 degrees
On a well-floured board, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness
Using either cookie cutters or a pattern cut out of cardboard,
cut cookies into shapes of bats and cobwebs
Place on ungreased baking sheet and chill until firm,about 15 minutes
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes,or until edges are light brown
Cool on wire racks
CHOCOLATE COATING:
Place chocolate in metal bowl over pan of hot,not boiling, water,and melt
Spread chocolate onto cookies with back of spoon to cover
Decorate with royal icing
To make cobweb design: Ice cookie with white royal icing
Pipe out a spiral of black icing starting from center to edges of cookie
Draw skewer or tip of sharp knife from center to each point on the cookie, and then from inner curves back to center
Makes about 4 dozen
ROYAL ICING
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry
Add sugar and lemon juice
Beat 1 minute
If icing is too thick, add water
If too thin, add more sugar
Divide icing into smaller bowls
Tint with small amounts of food coloring;mix well for even color
Spread thin layer of base icing on cooled cookies,using flat metal spatula
Allow to set uncovered at least 1 1/2 hours or overnight
Cover bowls of leftover icing with plastic wrap; wrap should touch icing
This prevents it from drying out
Thicken icing with a bit of confectioners sugar,and spoon into pastry bags
Ice the cookies using plain pastry tips, numbers 2, 3, and 4
Makes about 2 cups
Note: Raw eggs should not be used in food prepared for pregnant women,
babies, young children, the elderly, or anyone whose health is compromised.

 

[AmberWaves]

Ooooh, Skippy, sounds great, thank you!!