Sugar and Spice Cookies

Rather than baking the traditional icing covered sugar cookie, I opted to bake something with a little kick. This is another recipe from The Cookie Book.  No icing, just a little glaze, and some holiday spices to give them a kick.

Combine 2 cups of flour with a 1/2 tsp of baking powder, a pinch of salt, and cinnamon, cloves, and instead of mace and allspice, I used nutmeg and ginger.

Using a pastry blender, cut in a 1/2 cup of softened butter into the flour mixture until it resembles "fine bread crumbs."

So like this.

Next, mix in 1 beaten egg, and I used 2 Tbsp of water.  The mixture was originally too dry.  I started using a spoon.

But I had to switch to my hands...it got messy.

The recipe called for immediately rolling out the dough and cutting shapes, then refrigerating for half an hour, but I did it backwards.

Flour your rolling space as well as the rolling pin.

Roll the dough out, and cut out your shapes.

My shapes are festive, but can easily be gifted to those who don't gather around the tree for presents during this time of year.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

I didn't use the glaze, but if you want to here's what you do.  Mix 1 egg with 1 Tbsp of milk with a 1tsp of fine sugar.  Once they're out of the oven sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Happy Holidays!