Santa Sugar Cookies

Soft sugar cookies at this time of the year...perfect.  I can't take credit for the Santa decorating idea - I saw that at my local Kneader's bakery and totally copied it.  We don't even do Santa in our family, but they were so cute I had to make them.  Then I started pondering about how Santa would feel if faced with a plateful of his own face to consume on Christmas Eve.  I'll leave you to make your own decision about that one!

Everyone has their own super secret favorite sugar cookie recipe.  I don't know that this one is more fantastic than any other, but it's serviceable, and works well even without chilling the dough.  I like to add the pinch of nutmeg to the dough or a bit of grated lemon zest to make the flavor more interesting.

Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup real sour cream (read the label - I use Daisy because it doesn't have anything funny in it)
1 cup sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
3 cups all purpose unbleached flour

Beat the butter, sour cream, sugar, vanilla and egg together until creamy, then beat in the salt, soda and the flour, one cup at a time until it forms a nice dough ball.  On a lightly floured surface, roll out to a 1/4" thickness and cut into desired shapes.  For Santa heads, a 2 1/2"-3" circle works best.  Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes at 375 degrees.  Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/2 t. vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
milk

Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla, adding milk a tablespoon at a time until the frosting reaches a nice fluffy spreadable consistency.

To make Santas, sprinkle red sugar across the top 1/4" of the frosted circle. Place a mini marshmallow on one side for the hat pom pom.  Place two chocolate chips for eyes, a red hot for the nose, and sprinkle coconut on for the beard.