"Fancified" Butter Cookies (for the Holidays)

Today, I wanted to share with you all some cookies that I made for a friend's birthday dinner party a few months ago.  Although this is just a bit early, these cookies are perfect for the holidays because they are pretty, delicious, and just a little bit more special than your average butter cookie.

Not only that, but they are VERY easy and quick to bake.  That is a definite recipe requirement for me during the busy holiday season!  I had to get these done very fast and with my friend's help, they were in the oven in a flash.

P.S. - The recipient of these cookies told me that these reminded her of the cookies her Italian grandmother made around holiday time, which is how I got the idea to post the recipe.  Needless to say that she and her brother ended up finishing these cookies in a jiffy!

This recipe uses a cookie press, which is very affordable and sooo worth the results.  You could make them without, but the little kid in you (or your actual kids) will love pushing out the discs of perfect little cookies, just like Play-Doh!

"Fancified" Butter Cookies
Inspired by Vanilla Cookies recipe in instruction booklet

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

Equipment

• Cookie press
• Discs for your cookie press  (Psst: shop around for more options!)

Directions

1. In a stand mixer, combine the butter and granulated sugar, until light and fluffy.

2. Beat in the egg, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt.

3. Add the flour slowly, until well mixed.

4. Pack the dough into the cookie press, being careful not to overpack.  Cover with the disk design you would like to use, according to your directions.

5. Press the dough onto ungreased baking sheet spacing the cookies 1 inch apart.  Most likely the first one will be a dud, so you can toss it back into the bowl of unused dough.  The cookies will spread a moderate amount, so make sure to leave that space between.

6. Bake at  375 F, until lightly golden, about 10 - 12 minutes.  Gently transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool.

If desired, you can decorate the cookies by sprinkling them with sugar.  The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Otherwise, wrap them up in festive packaging and you're ready to gift your cookies!  I decided to box up all of the different rows of cookies, so each box had several surprise shapes.  I'm partial to the diamond and star-shaped cookies!

I just wanted to share this simple and fun recipe that is beautiful and great for the holidays, so I hope this helps for the many, many dinners and parties that you will be invited to this season.

Bon appetit!

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