Grandma's Sugar Cookies

When I was a young girl, I was always invited to Grandma's to help her make sugar cookies in a kitchen much like the one in this graphic. It would be later in the season, probably around December 20th.

Grandma and I would spend the entire day making sugar cookies together. She had every kind of Christmas cookie cutter you could imagine...star, holly, Christmas tree, an angel, wreath, snowman, Santa and probably ones that I've long forgotten. The cookies were baked in the oven of the old wood stove. We would add wood as needed and Grandma was very good at keeping that oven at a constant heat so the cookies would be perfect.

Once the cookies were golden at the edges, Grandma would use her apron to remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Then she would put them on newspaper to cool. Once cool, we would use coloured sugar, icing and winterberry candies to decorate them. What fun we had spending the day making at least five dozen cookies and sometimes more for the family to enjoy on Christmas Day.

Always, Grandma would make sure that I received a couple of cookies still warm from the oven and a big glass of cold milk from the ice box. Mmm! I can still taste them when I close my eyes and travel back to Grandma's kitchen. It was a real treat for me and Grandma and I always had fun together.

What memories do you have of a childhood Christmas. I challenge you to post one of your favourite Christmas memories.

Here is the recipe:


Ingredients
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Modern Method:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Use rolling pin to roll out the dough, cut with Christmas cookie cutters and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.