Charlene also demonstrated some Holiday Cutout Cookies in the Peach Mennonite Church Community Kitchen. This is a fun session as everyone can participate in rolling out the dough, cutting out the cookies, and decorate the cookies.

Above are some samples of the decorated Holiday Cutout Cookies.

Ingredients:

For cookies:

• refer Raspberry Diamonds

For Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2-3 tablespoons water

For decoration:

• food coloring
• sprinkles

Tool:

• cookies cutters

Click on Read More for the instructions.

Instructions

Prepare the cookie dough as per Raspberry Diamonds. Divide the dough into 3 portions. Flatten each piece into a 1-inch disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.Roll each piece of dough between two sheets of parchment paper until 1/4 inch thick. Loosen parchment paper on both sides, but remove only the top sheet.

With floured cookie cutters, cut dough into shapes. Plan your cutting properly so that there will be minimum scraps for re-rolling. Roll scraps together and repeat.

Place shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

It is important to place different size shapes on separate cookie sheet as the baking time differs depending on the size.Bake cookies in a 350F preheated oven until golden, about 12-15 minutes, switching pan positions halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheet for two minutes, then transfer to rack to cool completely.

To make the icing, mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and water together until smooth, and the icing can hold its shape when drizzled onto a flat surface.

Divide icing into several bowls and tint with food coloring to obtain desired colors. Use one drop of coloring at a time.

Here are some colored icings. You may combine different food coloring to achieve more colors.

Spoon icing into ziplock bags, cut a very tiny hole in one corner.

Ice cookies when they are completely cooled.

Icing idea: Cover a cookie completely with one color icing, then use a different color to create lines or dots. Use a toothpick to swirl colors. Charlene, thank you so much for such a fun cookie making session.