Buttery Cut-out Christmas Cookies

Total Time: 2 hrs 7 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 7 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups all-purpose flour

Recipe

• 1 combine the first five ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
• 2 beat at about medium speed until well combined and creamy, about 3-4 minutes.
• 3 gradulay add flour, and beat until well mixed, about 2-3 minutes more.
• 4 divide dough in half, and wrap each on in plastic wrap.
• 5 refrigerate until firm, at least two hours.
• 6 preheat oven to 375°.
• 7 roll out dough half on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thick.
• 8 keep the other half in the fridge until ready to use.
• 9 cut out the shapes your prefer, using a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter.
• 10 place 1" apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• 11 (i lined my sheets with nonstick "release" foil).
• 12 if i'm making christmas cookie shapes, i sprinkle the cookies with red, green, or multi-colored sugars before baking.
• 13 bake for 7-9 minutes or until edges are just slightly browned.
• 14 note: i find 8 minutes is the magic number for my oven. these cookies may also be baked plain, and decorated with icings after they are cooled.