Starry Surprise Cookies {12 Days of Christmas Treats}

I think I've saved the bast for last.  Or at least the cutest.  Not sure which!  Anyways, I was inspired by the pinata cookies that have been seen around pinterest lately.  You know, the cookies with the mini m&ms inside?

I love star shaped anything so my cookies had to be Christmas stars.  I was very tempted to draw black eyes a la Super Mario on these though.  Don't they look like the  invincibility stars from the game? or maybe the warp stars in Kirby?

They'd definitely be cute at a video game themed party.  All they need are the eyes drawn on with a black icing pen!

This filled cookie technique can be applied to practically any shape.  Maybe a Christmas stocking or a square present shape?  Or how about 'confetti' filled cookies for a New Year's Eve  party?  Use sprinkles for confetti et Voila!  Instant party!

I added a lot of yellow gel food coloring to my dough but it still came out very pale so I ended up using a fondant type flow icing after they were assembled.  I liked the flavor and think it kept the cookies soft.

I rolled my dough out on the thick side.  I didn't want a fragile cookie and it needed some depth to hold the M&Ms.

Assembling the cookies is easy, but only if you made sure that your sugar cookie recipe isn't one that spread much!  I suggest this one by Sweet Sugarbelle.  It always turns out for me and is a sturdy base for any decorated cookie.  It's yummy too!  If you've never checked out her blog before, be warned, it's addictive!  Her cookies are so pretty!  I also used her royal icing recipe to glue my layers together.  You don't need a lot!  So maybe halve the recipe?  I was assembling a Gingerbread Home at the time so I made a big batch and saved a little for these cookies.

A totally optional step:  make Quick Pour Fondant to add additional color and flavor to your cookies.  Bonus:  it seals in moisture!  It is a bit of a pain to use but only because it takes some time to set up and dry.  I loved the flavor of this icing though and plan on using it in the future.

I can't believe I made so many sweet treats this holiday season!  I wish Christmas would last a little bit longer.  My neighbors have already begun to dismantle their light displays and trees.  Mine will be up until the weekend after New Years I think.  I want to look at my ornament laden tree a little longer and burn my balsam scented candle until I just can't take it any more.  What was your favorite thing about Christmas this year?  The lights, the smells?  Being with family?

Grandma's Sugar Cookies {12 Days of Christmas Treats}

This post would be easier to write if I'd turn off the TV but that would mean not getting to sing along to The Sound of Music.  I've never considered it a Christmas Movie but it's always on this time of year.  One of the best things about Christmas is all the music.  The Christmas carols start playing 24/7 on some radio stations as early as Thanksgiving! 

I have so many favorite Christmas carols. I can't sing to save my life but that doesn't stop me from singing at the top my lungs.  I also love hearing my Grandma play carols on the piano at church.  I can't play any instruments so I'm always envious of those who can, like my husband and my Grandma.  

My current favorite Christmas song is "Do You Hear What I Hear".  The one I am tired of hearing is Mariah Carey singing "All I Want for Christmas is You".  I can't believe how much they play that song when there are so many others!  I mean I haven't even heard my childhood favorite, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas".

Well instead of getting annoyed with the radio and their choice of carols, I'll eat some cookies.  After I bake some more.  My roommate devoured these.  Apparently sugar cookies are his favorite.  

These cookies get their lovely design via a drinking glass.  My Grandma taught me this trick.  Of course all her glasses have lovely designs on their bottoms.  I had to search high and low for this glass!

The trick is to dip the glass bottom into a little bit of water and then onto the sugar crystals.  Then press your sugar dipped glass on to the cookie dough ball.  My Grandma would dye sugar with a few drops of food dye to make her sprinkles.  I opted to use store bought sugar sprinkles in red and green.  Grandma's were always red and green for Christmas!

These cookies taste so good and bring back so many wonderful memories of Christmas spent with my Grandparents.  I loved how she would serve these with home canned peaches or apricots (when her tree was still alive).  There's nothing fancy about these cookies but that doesn't mean they're boring.  They're just right!

Ole' Fashioned Sugar Cookies

from my Grandma Mary's recipe box

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup oil

1 cup sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

4 cup flour

1 tsp. cream of tarter

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsp lemon zest

Cream butter, oil, and sugar.  Add vanilla and eggs.  Sift together dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients.  Roll a teaspoon of dough into a ball, roll in sugar and press down with a drinking glass on parchment covered cookie sheet.  Bake in preheated 375 F oven for 10-12 minutes.