Super Easy “Tree Ornament” Sugar Cookies

When I was in grade school we used to make sugar cookies, string them with red thread and hang them as ornaments on our Christmas tree. I thought it would be a fun tradition to revive with my kids. However, since I hadn’t made these in like twenty-five years I decided a practice run was in order.

So I had a fun evening with Rainbow making cookies. We used some very vintage cookie cutters that belonged to my husband when he was little. The Easter rabbits and Noah’s Ark themed critters were cute, and added an extra element of fun to the cookie cutting, but I think when I make these for the tree I will just keep it simple like we did when I was a kid and use a water glass to make round ornament style cookies.

Cool vintage cookie cutters.

My very ancient, very tattered, recipe.

This recipe is incredibly easy. I’d go so far as to say, idiot proof. Which is great, because a baker I am not. (For example, we had already mixed the dough when I came to the realization that I don’t actually own a rolling pin!)

Aside from discovering that I need to buy a rolling pin, I figured out a couple of important things on this trial run:

1) This recipe makes about three trays of cookies.

2) They pretty much stay the same size once cooked. They don’t plump out much on the edges, so you don’t need to leave much space between cookies. You can really pack them onto the sheet.

3) I’m usually big on fresh warm from the oven baked goods, but I actually think these taste better once they’ve cooled off.

4) I made about half the cookies with my girl last night, refrigerated the dough overnight and then finished baking them this morning. Bad idea. The ones I baked when the dough was fresh-made tasted noticeably better.

The first batch, raw and cooked (minus a few we immediately gobbled up).

Here’s the recipe…
I’m going to copy it word for word from the very old, very faded, original.

Tree Treats

These holiday cookies are extra special because they are easy to make, fun to decorate, delicious to eat and – they make terrific tree ornaments.

1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
a pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together.

Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter or a drinking glass to cut out shapes.

Carefully poke a hole the size of a pencil near the top of each cookie.  Thread a coloured string through each hole.

Use raisins, chocolate chips, nuts or cherries for decoration.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 7-10 minutes.

Let cool.  Add the names or initials of your family and friends in coloured icing.  Tie the strings and you’re ready to hang up your cookies.

What about you folks? Have you ever made cookies to hang in your Christmas tree? Let me know if you give this recipe a try!