Easy Swirled Sugar Cookie

In case you haven't noticed, Christmas is quickly approaching!  As in, it's already tomorrow!  Christmas sugar cookie making is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  I love making the dough.  I love cutting out fun shapes.  I love decorating cookies.  I love adoring my work when I'm done.  But mostly I love to eat cookies!

Unfortunately, I just haven't had the time this year that it takes to make my traditional, beloved Christmas cookies.  But there was no way I could totally abandon sugar cookies this season.  I have seen pins on Pinterest with colored sugar cookies instead of frosted sugar cookies.  That seems more manageable for someone who wants pretty Christmas cookies, but doesn't want to spend all day making them.  This seemed like the perfect time to try them!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

For years I have made my husband a special birthday cake on his big day.  And I always made the kind of cake that I like: a white cake with colorful sprinkles, vanilla frosting, candles, etc.  My birthday cake for him was a pony shy of an 8-year-old girl's birthday party.  Then one year he informed me that he would prefer a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.  Oops. 

To my recollection, I had never had a red velvet cake.  So I didn't know what the big deal was or why he would rather have that than my traditional cake.  I didn't know how to make a red velvet cake, or really even what it was other than a red cake.  So I just bought a box or red velvet cake mix and a can of cream cheese frosting.  My husband liked it, but I was not that impressed. 

Fast forward to this week.  I'll give you a second.

Okay.  So I'm in the Christmas baking mood and trying to decide what my next treat will be.  I've made my favorite festive treats, Christmas Sugar Cookies and Cinnamon Almond Biscotti.  Now what?  Then it occurs to me to make something not traditionally associated with Christmas, but in a more festive manor.  I remember Christmas mornings as a child when my family made red and green colored waffles.  How about red velvet cupcakes with green colored cream cheese frosting?  Bingo!

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Words can't describe how much I adore Christmas sugar cookies.  Everyone knows this is the most wonderful time of the year and there are so many things that I love about Christmas.  I love that people are more giving, families get together, lights brighten the cold December air, and I can listen to old Christmas music shamelessly.  And I love making Christmas cookies.  Cookies are great any time of the year, but something about Christmas makes them special.  They are perfect for giving  and are part of so many family traditions.  I look forward to these all year! 

For these Christmas cookies, I used my Holiday Sugar Cookie recipe and Royal Icing (click on either to view the recipe!).  I made Christmas trees, stockings, bells, stars, and gingerbread men.  I think it is a good idea to keep the color scheme pretty simple.  The more colors you have, the more colors you have to mix and the more bowls, squeeze bottles, pastry bags, and tips you have to clean.  Yuck!