A pink jeweled christmas: decorating christmas sugar cookies

Every year I look forward to the Christmas season and the cookie baking.  There is something very relaxing for me about baking and decorating pretty cookies.  I am not at the level I want to be when decorating cookies but I think I am getting better with each passing year. 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am a die hard fan of Martha Stewart (to some people's consternation) and only my mom really understand, and shares, my love for her.  So it should come as no surprise that when it comes to cookie decorating, I always try to channel Martha.  Maybe because I have no kids, I always use designs and colors that are more grown up, like these cookies.  I think they came out very pretty don't you think?  My mom is always in awe of my baking because most women in my family really are not bakers; they are more cooks.  Me?  I LOVE baking. I look forward to mixing and measuring, cutting and baking.  I don't mind standing over a cookie, individually placing little pearls.  Cookie decorating is a great way for me to relax.  

Now, because I also work about 15 hours a day, I do appreciate when companies come up with ways of making a baker's life much easier.  And no item has helped me more than Wilton's White Cookie Icing.  Goodness, this is the best thing ever if you like decorating cookies.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for making Royal Icing...when I have time.  Which lately I don't.   Another thing I love is when I find new sanding sugars and sprinkles.  I love these Wilton's pink pearls; they are adorable.  And I love the shimmering sugars from Williams Sonoma.  They are so "glamorous" if you can call sugar that.

The cookies in this post are some of the ones I'll be mailing overnight to some of my friends.  Thanks to mom, I am all about presentation, so during Christmas I am always looking for cute treat boxes to send to friends.   I always appreciate when I know a friend has put effort into making a gift special, and I want them to feel the same.  So, I went to Michael's the other day and found these adorable boxes from Paula Deen.  I love the vintage look of these boxes.  They are super cute...and super affordable.

So, when baking holiday cookies, think outside the box, for a different look other than the traditional red and green.  You may be pleasantly surprised. :-)  Also, you can find the recipe for this basic sugar cookie HERE; it is the best I've come across.  Buen apetito!

I am linking my pretties to: