easy sugar cookie recipes to make for the holidays

5 easy sugar cookie recipes to make for the holidaysA Christmas cookie plate is not complete without a batch of sugar cookies. Since these simple cookies are made with little more than pantry ingredients, adding good quality butter and fresh spices if using will only make them better. Common wisdom says to chill the dough before rolling it out, but some bakers disagree, finding it easier to roll out the soft, unchilled dough between waxed paper, then refrigerating it before stamping out cookies. This counter intuitive method has two other benefits: Since its so thin, the rolled out dough chills faster. Plus, cookies stamped from refrigerated dough will hold their shape nicely in the oven.Regardless of the method you use, sugar cookies are easy to make and even easier to customize by adding flavors think cinnamon or coffee or decorating them with royal icing. Here are five easy, attractive and scrumptious takes on the sugar cookie that are sure to be a hit on your holiday cookie plate. Dye one red, one green and leave the other white. Roll them out into sheets, stack them on top of each other and roll them together into a log. Slice the log and voila swirled cookies. This method works well for any color combination. Just use a combination of almond flour and coconut flour. The key for creating this type of cookie is patience and planning, as the icing needs to set for several hours in between each application.