Twenty Little Angels

I've been thinking all week about Newtown and how profoundly this tragedy has hit all of us whether we are hundreds of miles away or thousands.  I wanted to do something that we could include in our celebration of Christmas this year that would remind us of all the families who have lost loved ones.  I have been baking Christmas cookies for over a week and  decided to make some handmade cookie angels for our tree.

I only have one Christmas Angel Cookie Cutter and it is quite small but in the end these cookies are not about beauty or perfection but about remembrance.

My daughter Kylene helped me with some of the decorating and we will hang them on the tree as family arrives to celebrate the holiday with us.  I used royal icing for the piping and threaded some satin ribbon through the tiny holes using a darning needle.  Merry Christmas.

Christmas Angels

Cream in the mixer:
3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar (less 2 tablespoons)  ( I made these once before and noted on the recipe there was too much sugar!)

Then add:
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Zest of one small lemon or very small orange

Then add:
2 1/4 cups flour
large pinch of salt

Mix just until clumps begin to form.  If the dough appears too dry add a very small amount of cream or milk (1/4 teaspoon at a time) just until large clumps form.

Turn the dough onto a large sheet of plastic, wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator.  Roll out onto floured board or counter.  Roll to between 1/8" and 1/4" but keep it consistent.  Cut the cookies (if you are using several shapes keep the cookies of like size on the same cookie sheet so they cook in approximately the same time.  Use a toothpick to form a hole for threading the ribbon if you plan on making ornaments.  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes until light golden brown.

Decorate with royal icing when completely cool.

Enjoy!