Last Valentine’s Day, I was asked to bring cookies for my child’s Valentine’s Day party.   I went to the grocery store and found lots of pre-made cookies for $6- $10 for about a dozen cookies.  I just did not feel like I could pay that much, so I went searching online for a recipe.  The recipe I found was Charmie’s Soft Sugar Cookies and not only did they come out cheaper than those store bought ones but they included ingredients I hand in my pantry.  I adapted the recipe some because the cooking temperature is way too high and I thought they needed more flavoring.  I also had a cake decorating icing that I got from a cake decorating class that worked perfect with the cookies.  Every party I have taken them to, there is never any left.  This has become my standard holiday cookie recipe,  I just change my cookie cutter for the holiday.  So, if you are going to a Halloween party or any holiday party in the future and need some cookies that are cute and cost a whole lot less consider these.

Ingredients

¾ cup butter or margarine, softened ($1.20)

1 cup sugar ($0.15)

2 eggs ($0.20)

1 teaspoon vanilla ($0.05)

2 ½ cups flour ($0.75)

1 teaspoon baking powder ($0.05)

1 teaspoon salt

 Directions

Cream margarine or butter with sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla and blend well.  Sift together dry ingredients and blend to butter/sugar mixture.  Chill at least 1-1/2 hours.  Roll on a floured board to 1/2 inch thick. Cut with desired cookies cutters.  Bake the cookies at 375 degrees F for 8—10 minutes or until slightly brown.  Cool cookies on a cooling rack.  Frost the cookies with your favorite icing. Makes about 3 dozen cookies depending on the size of cookie cutters you use.

 Cookie Cutters and Decorations

I have never paid more than $0.50 for cookie cutters.  I always buy them after the holiday when they mark stuff down and I have a large collection.  I used the Wilton Ghost Cookie Cutter for these, but you could also use the Wilton Pumpkin Cutter.  I also think these Tombstone Cookie Cutters would looke real cute.  I have found that the bigger and  sturdier Wilton cutters do better with these cookies.  So, look around and decide what you want to do.  For the ghost, I just used chocolate chips for the eyes.  You could tent your icing to make the pumpkin orange and the stem brown.  They also sell lots of decorating colored sugars and other decorating sprinkles you could use on them.  I also buy these after the holiday and have never paid more than $0.50 for them.  So, just get creative and decide what you want to use.  Don’t forget to include your children.  They love decorating cookies.

 Decorator Icing

½ cup solid shortening

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon clear flavoring, such as Almond

1 lb. powdered sugar.

Cream together shortening, water, and flavoring.  Add powdered sugar and beat until well blended.  Add water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.