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5 cups flour (all purpose)
1 cup butter, softened
1/ 2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 eggs
4 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Extra flour for rolling

Icing
Decorations – sprinkles, candies, etc.

1. Place the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Sift together.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream butter, margarine and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
3. Cut dough in half and place into 2 separate Ziploc bags. Chill for at least one hour or more in refrigerator.
4. When ready to bake – Oven 350 degrees
5. Flour surface, (table top) where rolling out dough. Flour hands and rolling pin.
Remove dough from refrigerator. Cut one chilled dough into 4 pieces and place one
piece of dough onto floured surface. Generously, sprinkle top of dough with flour.
Roll dough to 1/ 4 inch thickness. Dip cookie cutters into flour before using on
dough. Cut shapes.
6. Place cookie shapes onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 6 to 13 minutes, depending on cookie shape size, and oven temperatures (some ovens run hotter than others) or until lightly browned. Makes about 7 dozen cookies.
7. Cool completely on wire racks. Decorate with icings and colored sugars, sprinkles, etc.
8. ENJOY – Baked especially for you by a child’s little hands!

Cookie cutters bring out the child in me. Whenever I see one, it makes me smile. Of course, you need a great recipe to put your cookie cutter to good use, and I just happen to have one for you!

I’ve experimented with many cookie cutter recipes over the years, but none have worked for me as well as this one. However, don’t bother asking me where I found this recipe, I have zero recollection. Let’s just say it’s an oldie but goodie. I’ve enjoyed this recipe for both Easter and Christmas cookies, and anytime I need shaped cookies. Trust me, it’s fool proof.

No matter how many cookies I have baked with my children and others over the years, and now with my grandchildren, there is no cookie more loved than this one. Children take great delight in choosing the cookie cutters and rolling the dough. What they especially love is icing and decorating these cookies.

I recently made these cookies with my granddaughter, Mackenzie. She was so excited to use the rolling pin, and shared with me that this is her favorite thing to do. Could I have a budding baker in the family? Afterwards, she took a container full of cookies home to share with her brothers and parents.

Bake some happiness with cookie cutters, flour, and a smile. What a perfect gift to give and to share with a child. One baked with love!