How to Make Christmas Cookies and Homemade Cookie Cutters?

Traditional Christmas cookies usually are cut out sugar cookies. Children young and old enjoy making cut out cookies at Christmas time.

Find a recipe for the sugar cookies, check out the internet, cookbook or ask Mom for her favorite sugar cookie recipe. Say you are not a baker, you can buy sugar dough make up in some grocery stores. In the bakery section ask for sugar dough you can purchase.

Once you make the dough or buy the dough you will want to place a small amount of flour spread on a flat surface. If you do not have a rolling pin you can use a smooth surface drinking glass to roll the dough. Rub a small amount of flour on the glass to help from sticking. Place the dough in the middle and start rolling out the dough to a quarter of an inch.

Cut out the cookies with cookie cutters; remove the cookies with a spatula on to a non greased cookie sheet. Follow directions for the cookies for the temperature of the oven and how long they should bake. Normally Christmas cookies will take 10-12 minutes depending on the oven at 350 degrees.

Once the cookies are light golden brown, take out of the oven using a spatulas place them on toweling, wax paper or a place for them to cool. Once they are cooled is the time to start decorating with frosting, sprinkles, and other holiday decorations.

Cookie cutters can be hand make simply. One quick way is to use cardboard. Find a picture of the shape you would like cut the shape out. Do not be cutting to tiny shapes on the design. Once done place the picture on the cardboard, draw around the shape and cut out on the cardboard. Place the cardboard on the dough, with using a knife trace the shape in the dough.

To make more advance Christmas cookie cutters is to find a paper shape or cut one out with paper. Use an aluminum pan, on the bottom trace the shape. Cut out the shape using the aluminum bottom. Once cut out use the cutting part of the scissors to smooth out the aluminum in the shape. Cut half inch strips from the remaining bottom of the aluminum pan. Flatten out the strips; shape the strips around the shape. Glue the sides to the edge of the shape. Place the shape on the dough and press down the cookie cutter lightly in the dough.

This is a great way to have shapes for the holiday when you cannot find your child's favorite shape.