This is one of my favorite traditions and has been in the family for generations. We all gather ‘round the kitchen counter—my brothers, sisters, kids, and adults alike. Mom, who’s looking very fashionable wearing her flour-dusted apron and wielding an electric hand mixer, gives us instructions on how to best decorate our own jack-o-lantern cookies.
For the eyes and noses, we use candy corn (that’s ooey-gooey delicious once out of the oven), and for the mouths, we decorate with mini chocolate chips. We each take turns smooshing the candy into the dough, letting our creativity flow. There’s no limit to what you can create. You can make happy ones, scary ones, funny ones but, most of all, delicious ones!
This recipe is extremely versatile and can be used for any occasion. Just pull out your favorite cookie-cutter shapes—pumpkins, ghosts, leaves, hearts, anything! Experiment with different toppings such as candy corn, chocolate chips or kisses, marshmallows, nuts, spooky eyes, coconut flakes, syrup, the list goes on.
Make this recipe a new Halloween tradition for your family!
Vanilla Cut-Out Cookies
1 cup butter (NOT margarine)
1 ½ cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups sifted enriched flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
Thoroughly cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to the creamed mixture. Add milk, vanilla, and food coloring then mix. Chill (for at least 2 hours).
Roll dough very thin (about ¼ inch). Cut with your favorite cookie cutter dipped in flour. Decorate with candy, frosting, etc. Bake on greased cookie sheet in hot oven at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until delicately browned. Watch them closely! Best hot out of the oven, but they also store well in the refrigerator.
