Dear Reader,
Baking Christmas cutout cookies with my grandkids last weekend reminded me of a column I wrote years ago about the first time I finally succeeded. (Click on the link at the end of today's column and you'll find the recipe that finally worked and be sure to take a look at the old photos, too. The kids were so young, and Grandma was, too!)
It's only taken me 61 years to master making cutout Christmas cookies and it almost didn't happen again this year. Decorating the cookies has never been the insurmountable step for me, it's rolling the dough, pressing down the cookie cutter and then lifting it ever so gently, to transfer the freshly cut cookie dough onto a baking sheet, without losing Santa's foot--that's been my challenge.
For years I attempted the cutout cookie feat, and every year I gave up and made Spritz, Candy Cane, and Chocolate Crackle cookies instead. It's been especially frustrating for me since I mix and roll out pie dough without any trouble.
So this year, what the heck, I gave it another try (it's become a holiday tradition), but just like in years past, I failed--again. This time after I tossed the dough in the trash (and grumbled a few choice words), something inside me was determined to face the cutout cookie demon and I gave it one more try. The heck with my grandmother's tried and true recipe, I decided to venture out on my own and try a different recipe for cutouts--and it worked!
Easy to mix, easy to roll, never once did I amputate Santa's foot while transferring him to the baking sheet--and the cookies tasted amazing. My neighbors sent me a text suggesting I should consider starting a second career baking cutout cookies.
To read the recipe and see photos of our family's cookie decorating, click here.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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