Some of my favorite recipes to make with my kids are cookies. I find their attention is far less likely to wander when there is the promise of wielding a cookie cutter and sprinkles at the end. The holidays are the perfect time of year for baking up a bit of magic with your little ones. Pop in a holiday CD, slip on an apron and try out some of these simple but yummy recipes.

Favorite Family Sugar Cookies

What you need:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• Red and/or green colored sugar
• Holiday themed cookie cutters

What you do:

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
2. Add butter, milk, vanilla and eggs, and mix at low speed until well blended.
3. Refrigerate, covered, for two hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350° and grease cookie sheet.
5. Sprinkle flour on a clean, flat surface and roll out one half of dough to ¼” thick.
6. With cookie cutters, cut out cookies and place them one inch apart on cookie sheet.
7. Sprinkle lightly with colored sugar, and bake for 12 minutes.
8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely and repeat with remaining dough.

Cookie Icing Directions:

• 5 cups icing sugar
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 4 egg whites
• Food coloring (optional)
• Raisins and candies (optional)
• Icing bag and/or paintbrush

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl and beat at low speed until just mixed, then turned blender to high and beat until stiff.
2. If you like, divide icing into separate bowls and add food coloring.
3. Decorate cookies using an icing bag or paintbrush, and add details with candies.