These are so lite and good. The little ones love to decorate them and eat them.

I wanted to try something new this year and found it in this simple recipe for Italian Christmas cookies. It is a mix between a sugar cookie and a cut out, best of both if you ask me. They remind me of those sugar cookies you can buy at Walmart that the kids love, with all the great icing on top but of course taste a tad better being home made. If you’d like the recipe here is all you will need.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1- 15oz. ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons of gluten free vanilla (McCormick)
4 cups of all-purpose gluten free flour (I make my own mix and you can find that on this blog) add 1 1/2 tsp. of xanthan gum to flour mix
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Frosting:
1/4 cup of softened butter
3 cups of confectioner’s sugar
1/2-1 teaspoon vanilla (gluten free McCormick)
4 Tablespoons of milk
Sprinkles to decorate

How to put it all together:
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time beating well after each one. Beat in ricotta and vanilla.
In another bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda. Gradually add to creamed mixture.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on a parchment lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake about 14 minutes at 350F. Remove to wired cookie racks to cool.

Time to make the frosting.
In a bowl, cream softened butter, sugar, vanilla and milk. Mix for a little while frosting will come together. Frost cooled cookies and immediately decorate cookies.
*TIP If frosting stiffens up on you just take a wooden spoon and mix again it will become soft. Also put sprinkles into a bowl and dip the frosted cookie into the sprinkles gently, they will stick that way.

Modified from Taste of Home recipe.
Have a Blessed Christmas!