Cream the soft butter with the sugar until the combination is smooth not grainy to the touch in a mixing bowl.
-Add eggs...Continue to mix.
-Add the vanilla.. Continue mixing.
-Sift the four, baking soda, and salt together.
-Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.
-Continue mixing to make sure all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
-Make the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling wrap completely covering the entire dough ball.
-Put in the refrigerator for about 6 hours or overnight. Check to see if the dough is firm.
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
-Pull the cookie dough out of the refrigerator and sit it out to soften up a bit.
- Put flour out on the cutting board, rub flour on the rolling pin, and work some flour into the batter. (if needed).
-Roll the dough out on the cutting board and using the cookie cutter begin to make your cookies.
-Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
-Using a metal spatula move the cut cookies to the parchment lined cookiesheet.
-Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes. Check to see if the cookies are thoroughly baked.
-Take the cookies off of the cookie sheet and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
(About 10 minutes).
Icing Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
-Divide the icing into 4 equal bowls.
-The first bowl of icing add brown to make light brown.
-The second bowl of icing, add several drops of brown.
-The third bowl of icing remains white.
-The fourth bowl, add a few drops of green colored gel
-Using 4 number #2 tips fitted onto piping bags, scoop some icing into each bag.
-Thin out the green icing left in the bowl using a tsp of water
-pipe an edge using the green icing around the tree.
-Fill in with the thinner green icing.
-Let dry for 2-3 hours.
-Decorate the reindeer according to the picture.
-Let dry for another 3 hours
-Place christmas tree circle cookie and hold it there for 35 minutes
-Place the reindeer on the cookie.
-Let dry for 2 hours.
Makes 3 dozen.
