The holidays are right around the corner and finding fun holiday activities can become quite a handful. Baking is a hobby enjoyed by many year-round, especially during the winter season where you can get creative with your desserts. Sugar cookies and gingerbread men are classic treats to bake during Christmas time, and I will be sharing these easy recipes with you.

Sugar Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 3 ½ dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 cups all-purpose flour

In a medium mixing bowl, add your baking powder and flour and set the bowl aside. The flour and baking powder will be your dry ingredients. Next, beat your sugar, vanilla extract, egg, and butter in a large bowl until it is creamy. Make sure there are no lumps of butter in the mixture. Add your dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl and stir until the dough is smooth.

Divide and chill your dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and then proceed to make your cookie shapes. You may use cookie cutters or simply roll the dough into small balls and place the cookies ½ an inch away from each other on a baking sheet. Preheat your oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until golden brown. Let your cookies cool for 20 minutes before you begin to add icing or toppings. You can get creative with decorating by adding crushed peppermint or candy of your choice. Decorate the cookies to your liking and enjoy.

Gingerbread Men 

Prep Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 53 minutes

Servings: 3-4 dozen

Ingredients

• ¾ cup melted unsalted butter
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• ¾ cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoons allspice
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

In a medium mixing bowl add your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and whisk together, and set aside. Melt your butter at low-medium heat in a medium saucepan. Then add brown sugar, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and molasses to the saucepan and stir. When the ingredients are well mixed, remove from the stove and pour the mixture into a large bowl and add the egg. Add the flour into the large bowl of molasses and stir well with a wooden spoon.

Divide and transfer the dough to the refrigerator and chill for at least an hour. Preheat your oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit and spread flour on a clean surface. On the floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to be ¼ of an inch thick and cut out shapes with a gingerbread man cookie cutter or cookie cutter of your choice. Place each cookie an inch apart on a baking sheet and bake for 8-9 minutes or until cookie edges have turned brown. Let your cookies cool completely for about 20 minutes before decorating. You may add powdered sugar and colored icing. Decorate to your liking.

Hopefully, you may bake these treats with these easy steps and share them with your family and friends. Have fun and enjoy.