Christmas Cookie Extravaganza!

I am feeling so much better about Christmas. I feel pretty much on top of things (finally!) as the big day is fast approaching. I have mostly "fun stuff" left on my to-do list, things like baking and wrapping presents. The only daunting chore looming on the horizon is washing and polishing the floor. (Yuck! At least my dear husband has committed to help me with that one.)

Have I mentioned that I love baking Christmas cookies? This afternoon my son and I made a classic recipe --- snickerdoodles! They turned out great. My son declared our cookies, "Very, very yummy."

We still have four days to go until Christmas. I figure we can get in a few more recipes before then!

Penny Snickerdoodles

1 1/3 C. all- purpose flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 C. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 C. plus 2 tbsp. sugar
1 large egg
2 tbsp. cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400C. In a medium-size bowl, sift the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, cream the butter and 3/4 C. sugar. Stir in the egg until thoroughly blended. One third at a time, stir in the dry ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll into balls the size of marbles (a fun job for kids). On a plate or in a shallow bowl, mix the cinnamon and 2 tbsp. of sugar. Roll the balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place on an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Flatten the cookies with the bottom of a glass or jar (dip it into the cinnamon-sugar mixture to keep it from sticking).

Bake the cookies for 6 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned along the edges. Transfer to a cooling rack. When they're thoroughly cool, store in an airtight jar. Makes 10 to 12 dozen cookies.