Click the picture above to get your very own set of Ugly Sweater Cookie Cutters!
Start Out The Christmas Season On The Right Foot With Ugly Sweater Cookies While You’re Wearing Your Most Treasured Ugly Sweater!!
This concept truly tickles me!! How many great sweaters have you received that were absolutely without a doubt U-G-L-Y . . . ? You knew you wouldn’t wear it — well maybe to clean out the garage, basement or attic . . . Never to wear in public. You didn’t have the heart to throw it out because of who gave it to you — a beloved relative . . . Or . . . you absolutely love it . . . And your family wouldn’t be caught dead with you wearing it . . . You may have even on occasion found it in the trash or the rummage sale bag . . . Now!!! You can celebrate your ugly sweater with a Christmas Cookie!!!
Ingredients To Make 5 Dozen Cookies:
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3/4 cup butter, softened
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1 cup packed brown sugar
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1 large egg
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3/4 cup molasses
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4 cups all-purpose flour
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1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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2 teaspoons ground ginger
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1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Ingredients For Making Royal Icing:
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4-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
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1/3 cup water
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4 teaspoons meringue powder
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1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
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1/8 teaspoon salt
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1 to 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
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Optional: Food coloring and assorted sprinkles, candies and other fun stuff
Directions:
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Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and molasses. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and spices; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half; shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to roll, 4 hours or overnight.
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Preheat oven to 350° F. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured sweater-shaped cookie cutters. Place 2 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheets.
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Bake cookies until edges are firm, 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
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Place first 5 icing ingredients in a small bowl; beat on low speed just until blended. Beat on high until stiff peaks form, 4-5 minutes. Thin with cream to desired consistency. If desired, tint with food coloring.
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Pipe icing onto cookies and decorate as desired. (Keep unused icing covered at all times with a damp cloth. If necessary, beat again on high speed to restore texture.) Let cookies stand at room temperature several hours or until frosting is dry and firm.
I could watch this video and other ugly sweater decorating videos all day — they truly amaze me with what you can do with icing and maybe a little help from a stencil . . . And your imagination . . . It’s amazing how these ugly sweaters aren’t so ugly — but a work of art!! You need to have a go at it!! Get the kids involved!! They are a whole lot less afraid to delve in and create. Have fun and enjoy!!
What We Know About The Ugly Christmas Sweaters
With the commercialization of Christmas back in the 1950’s there were lots of trends taking place . . . The one that stands out and has withstood the test of time has been the Ugly Christmas Sweaters . . . Yet orginally they were known as Jingle Bell Sweaters and showed different Christmas Themed images. Snowflakes, Reindeer, Santa, Elves, Candy, Ornaments, etc. Many of the original designs were quite nice . . . But then . . . things changed and television got onto the scene and created something that was not as tasteful and appealing . . . Thus the concept of the Ugly Christmas Sweater took off and in the 2020’s there were Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties . . . December 21 is the official National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!!
