Cloud Nine Christmas Cookies

Every year I search and search and search some more for the best recipe for Christmas Cookies, and every year I end up with a mediocre cookie that probably could've just as easily come out of a box. But this year was different. The recipe I found put all other cookie recipes to shame!

I'm calling them Cloud Nine Christmas Cookies, well, because they taste how I'd imagine cookies on cloud nine would taste!

I forgot the Red & Green Sprinkles, but I think the rainbow ones looked pretty cute!

Ingredients:

• -8 ounces unsalted butter
• -3/4 cup granulated sugar
• -1/4 teaspoon salt
• -1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• -1 large egg yolk
• -2 cups all-purpose flour
• Directions:
• 1. Beat the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla together until smooth and creamy.
• 2. Mix in the egg yolk until well incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl at least once.
• 3. Add the flour and mix just until incorporated.
• 4. Scrape onto a lightly floured board and knead a few times, just until the dough smooths out.
• 5. Turn onto a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a log, wrap up and freeze for a few hours. (This is crucial!)
• 6. Before baking, preheat the oven to 325°F.
• 7. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or foil.
• 8. Slice the dough into slices about 1/8" thick and place them on the sheets about an inch apart (they won't spread very much, but they need room around each cookie).
• 9. Bake until JUST beginning to turn golden around the edges, about 16-18 minutes.

10. Let cool for at let an hour then decorate

There are so many possibilities with these cookies! With the given recipe, you will get about 10 cookies, so if you plan to serve them at a party or to family, I'd suggest doubling or tripling the recipe, because they are that good! These could definitely be decorated for any season or occasion. ENJOY!