Old-Fashioned Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookies

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Welcome readers, today, stay tuned for my Old-Fashioned Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookies recipe!

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• 🍪 Old-Fashioned Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookies
• ✔️ Why We Like this Cut-Out Cookie
• 🎄Amish Cut-Out Ingredients
• 📋 Amish Cut-Out Instructions
• 🎅More Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookie Recipes
• 🖨️Printer-Friendly Christmas Cut-Out Recipe

The following are Christmas reflections from Amish author, Gloria Yoder:

Meanwhile, from my corner in the office, where I was finishing up a note to a friend, I heard the entrance door open. My mother’s cheery voice caught my attention. Next came Hosanna’s inquisitive: “Who’s birthday is that for?”

Mom’s chipper voice popped up, “Why, it’s Jesus’ birthday!”

Dancing With Delight

As I rounded the corner, I saw it with my own eyes: a plateful of attractively decorated cut-out cookies with the one in the center gracing a large birthday candle. I took it all in. There was my little daughter dancing with delight, her freshly washed curly hair bobbing up and down. Her little brothers all gathered around as Grandma handed the plate of fresh cookies to eager hands.

It only takes a grandma to bring an extra-ordinary splash into an ordinary day. “These little heart-shaped ones are for you children,” she explained. Knowing that we monitor their sugar in-take, she proceeded, “You may have one at a time, whenever your mom tells you so.”

There were more little dances of delight as we set the table for supper.

As soon as the main course was finished, I cleared the table of emptied food dishes. (I can’t relax with dessert if the table is too cluttered with unneeded pots or pans.) Julia fetched the plate with birthday cookies. In preparation for lighting the candle, we turned down the lights so everyone could enjoy the soft glow. As is our custom with birthdays, we lit the candle, then all sang Happy Birthday, only this time it was to Jesus. My heart glowed as I explained to the children that this song is heard, even in heaven!

How old is Jesus?" Hosanna wondered. My mind flashed here and flipped there. “Well, Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago, but in heaven he does not grow old, neither does He grow old in our hearts,” I explained.

Singing Christmas Carols

Now you probably remember in last weeks column we talked about Grandma taking her grandchildren Christmas caroling. It turned out to be an amazing event. Get the picture: grandma, who I am delighted to call my mother, glowing with eight of her grandchildren, ages four to ten. They are all bundled up, going from house to house singing Christmas carols at seven different homes sprinkled through the quiet country side. My mom was busy in the kitchen that day as she made candy, party mix, and more cut-out cookies to put on trays to pass out along there way.

They winded up their singing as they lined up on our porch and sang for us, beaming through the windows. Afterward, they came in for snacks and hot chocolate. They each found the setting with their name, at the little picnic tables I had set up and decorated for them. All too soon the evening was past. The memories remain etched forever.

🍪 Old-Fashioned Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookies

Pictures and Instructions

• Amish Pro Tip: Almost every Amish baker we talk to recommends chilling cookie dough. Overnight is best, but if you don't have that kind of time, even 2 - 3 hours is better than nothing. It allows the butter in the batter mixture to spread and the flavors to meld than if you just leave it at room temperature.
• Amish Pro Tip #2: Replace the milk in the recipe with prepared coffee, you'll get a hint of mocha and the same super texture. And the smell of these cookies lifting from your oven is amazing.

From all the cut-out cookie recipes we've tried, this one for Old-Fashioned Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookies remains our favorite! Enjoy. (Editor's Note: the history of Christmas cut-outs is a long and storied one, read all about their journey here)

There are variations in how you can make this recipe. You can swap out vanilla extract for almond extract. You can use a wooden spoon to mix it the Amish way, or be modern and use a stand mixer and a medium bowl. Either way, these Christmas cut out cookies will turn out amazing. These are some of the best Christmas treats you can find!

Once they are frosted they look beautiful on a cookie tray to give to take to a gathering, Add some sprinkles and the cookies double as decorations.

✔️ Why We Like this Cut-Out Cookie

Texture: As far as a sugar cookie recipe goes, this is a perfect texture, not too soft where it crumbles in your hands, but not so hard that you feel like you are biting down on a table. The in-between softness is perfect. One of the best sugar cookie recipes we have tasted!

Flavor: You get a super mix of flavors, the brown sugar, butter, and vanilla combine in just the right proportions to deliver pure taste bud bliss! The sugar cookie frosting is simple but super. If you want a great cookie icing, this is it.

Easy: You won't be chained to your kitchen all day with these. Other than chilling the dough, these cookies can be one and done in an hour.

Freeze: You can make several batches of these and put some away in the freezer in an airtight container for a future date to enjoy!

🎄Amish Cut-Out Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs, well-beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Frosting

• 1 /2 cup butter, melted
• 1 /4 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar

📋 Amish Cut-Out Instructions

Cookies:

1. Combine in order given.
2. Chill dough for a couple hours.
3. Roll with a rolling pin out on a lightly floured surface to ¼ inch thick.
4. Cut out with cookie cutters and place on cookie or baking sheets (you can use parchment paper).
5. Bake at 350 until cookie is set (8 - 10 minutes).
6. Don't over-bake. Cool cookies on wire racks and frost and enjoy!  Yield will depend on your size of cookie cutters. Share what you don't need.

Frosting:

Whip everything together, spread on cookies. Top with sprinkles.

*For extra flavor brown the butter till almost burnt or replacing the milk with prepared coffee.

🎅More Amish Christmas Cut-Out Cookie Recipes

Cut-out cookies are really popular Christmas treats among the Amish, but there are many recipe variations for this traditional favorite. Here are some:

Gloria's Grandmother's Christmas Cookie Cut-Outs

An old Amish favorite!

Summer Sour Cream Cut-Out Cookies

Save these for summer!

Susan Schlabach's Vanilla Butter Roll-Outs

So good!

Five Gallon Sugar Cookies

An Old Brethren Recipe!

🖨️Printer-Friendly Christmas Cut-Out Recipe