Frosted Sugar Cookies

Do you have any Christmas movie favorites?! Well, I do! I really enjoy "While You Were Sleeping," "Elf" (so awesome), and "On the 2nd Day of Christmas" (the Lifetime movie). Elf is by far my favorite. That movie makes me laugh so hard, whether it was the first time I watched it or the 100th (no I have not actually seen it a hundred times but a good 10). As you can see, I am a definite sucker for romantic comedies. There is something about corny romances that make me so happy. So this Christmas, after doing some baking and maybe some napping-- I got comfy on the couch and watched my favorite parts of Elf and a new romantic comedy-- the Backup Plan. Quite cute, but definitely not my favorite romantic comedy.

I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful holiday! I was a bit late with this but I wanted to take a Christmas Family photo. I think it is good to capture your family on each major holiday for every year-- to see how you change over time and to just capture sweet moments. This year, I am especially picky-- because it is the hubby and I's first year of marriage-- and well you cannot ever get that back-- so I want to know that I captured every, single moment. The hubby was a good sport but Ninja was a different story. He was being super stubborn on not wanting to sit next to the Christmas Tree. And the poor thing kept blinking every time the flash went off. So, here is it: Happy Holidays from our family to yours :)

Well, Christmas is not Christmas unless you make cookies for Santa right?! I may have made my cookies a little late, but Santa is always welcome at my house and not just in the early morning of Christmas Day :) I love sugar cookies and they are so easy to make festive-- just change the color of the frosting or the sprinkles and voila you got yourself a holiday cookie! Here you go Santa, I hope you enjoy them...and until then...the hubby is enjoying them ;)

FROSTED SUGAR COOKIES (small batch)

Adapted from Sweet Peas Kitchen 

INGREDIENTS

Preheat Oven to 425F Degrees

FOR THE COOKIES (about 22- 2 1/2 inch cookies)

2 1/4 c. flour (add a 1/4 c. if the dough is too sticky). 

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 stick of butter, softened 

3/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. sour cream

FOR THE FROSTING

1 stick of butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

3 tbsp. heavy cream

Sprinkles 

Food coloring (if desired)

DIRECTIONS

For the cookies: In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. In the bowl of  a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars for approximately 4 minutes. Scrape down sides and add egg and mix until incorporated; followed by vanilla extract and sour cream-- mix on low speed until combined. Add dry ingredient to wet ingredients and mix until just incorporated- do not over mix. Wrap dough in saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 

On a flat surface, covered with flour, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Using a 2 1/2 in circle cookie cutter- cut out circles and transfer to a baking sheet lines with either a baking mat, parchment paper, or cooking spray. Space cookies about 1.5 inches apart (they do not spread much). Bake 7-8 minutes. Place on cooling rack to completely cool (you do not want to melt the frosting).

For the buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and vanilla. Slowly add in powdered sugar. Once creamy, add heavy cream 1 tbsp. at a time until the consistency is as desired (you want to it to be creamy but not watery).

Once cookies are completely cooled-- frost the cookies (you can add food color to the frosting if desired) and add sprinkles. Allow frosting to set (I placed my cookies in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes until frosting set. **Sweet Pea's Kitchen recommends that you store in an air tight container and that you allow the cookies to set for several hour before serving- to allow for the flavors to develop!

Enjoy,

Chika