I remember when my mom got this recipe from our neighbor, Mrs. Rogers back in my youth. The way I remember them being made was that they were always rolled in white granulated sugar. They called them Sugar Cookies and they were one of my favorite cookies during the holidays when I was a kid.
When we got married and Mark and I started our own family, there were certain traditions I wanted to continue from when I was a little girl and hopefully pass along to our 2 boys. These cookies were one of the things I needed to fondly rekindle my happy Christmas memories from when I was little. I am happy to report that our boys (now grown) feel exactly the same way about these cookies. Christmas just isn't the same without these festive little sugar cookies and we have some great memories attached to them.
Some of our favorite times spent eating them was Christmas at the zoo when the boys were little. We'd bundle everybody up, hop in the car and go to the Brookfield or Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago along with a thermos of hot chocolate and a bunch of candy canes. There is just something magical about walking amongst all the white twinkling lights, visiting the animals and munching on these tasty cookies. Warms my heart just thinking about those times.
Or there are the times (many of them) that we'd grab a blanket, a tin of these cookies and more hot chocolate, jump in the car and drive around the different communities in our area looking at all the Christmas lights and decorations. With Christmas music gently playing on the car radio, we were safe, warm and blessed to be together. These cookies bring back that same feeling each and every year.
And of course I can't forget the most important part these cookies have played throughout our history as a family. These were the cookies that were always left out for Santa along with a big glass of milk. Santa never disappointed and always finished them off leaving only a few crumbs behind.
Being an animal loving family that we are, we always fed Santa's reindeer too. On Christmas eve we'd toss apple and carrot chunks up on the roof for them to munch on while Santa was busy leaving presents under our tree. On Christmas morning, our boys would run down to the tree, then check the plate to see if Santa had liked the treats we'd left for him and then head outside to see if the reindeer had enjoyed their snack of carrots and apples. Those reindeer never failed to bring delight to our two small boys. Wouldn't you know, those apples and carrots were always gone by morning :)
Here is the recipe for these tasty treats if you'd like to add them to your families collection of cookies:
SANTA'S FAVORITE COOKIE {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup shortening (I use butter flavor Crisco)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
red and greed decorating sugars to roll your cookies in.
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Cream the sugars and shortening together in a large bowl.
-Add the egg and mix to combine.
-Add the remainder of the ingredients (except the decorating sugars) to form a soft and slightly sticky dough.
-Using a teaspoon, take out and roll dough into balls about the size of a walnut.
-Drop balls into colored sugars and roll them to coat entire ball with sugar alternating colors as desired.
-Place them on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 8-12 minutes.
-Cool and eat.
Thanks for allowing me to take a walk down memory lane (twinkling lights included). Happy Holidays!!!
Sending you warm holiday wishes.
Until we bake again,
Labels: cookies, sanding sugar, santas favorite cookie, sugar cookies
