comfort & joy

What could be better than a fire in the fireplace, Christmas music playing, candles lit and PILES and PILES of cookies on the counter!  Today I hosted a tea party and cookie exchange with my homebuilder ladies while my husband and son went Christmas shopping.  Now we're eating cookies and watching "It's a Wonderful Life", which I have never seen before (I know, I know).  Ahhh, Christmas time.  What else can I say.

Visions of Sugar

Cookie Monster!

Here is the recipe I made:

Sour Cream Honey Snowflakes

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon orange zest

1/8 teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, sour cream, honey and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and chill for 2 hours or until easy to handle. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with a 3-inch cookie cutters dipped in flour. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie baking sheets. Bake at 325° F for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Decorate with white icing and granulated sugar. Yield: about 8 dozen.