Santa Face Cookies

This recipe includes clever suggestions for making whimiscal santa faces, such as pressing small pieces of the cookie dough through a garlic press to make a curly beard.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup currants, chopped
2 tablespoons cinnamon candies
1 teaspoon red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened baking cocoa

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large bowl beat together butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in milk and vanilla. Add flour and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
3. Divide dough into thirds and roll out one portion at a time on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick. Cut dough with a large, floured, Santa-shaped cookie cutter and place 1-inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Decorate Santas using currants for eyes, cinnamon candy for the nose and red food coloring painted on for the hat and mouth. Make a paste of baking cocoa and water for the eyebrows. Press small pieces of the dough through a garlic press to make a curly beard; press on to chin.
5. Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on the cookie sheets for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.