the Halloween-pumpkin-cut-out-cookie tradition

Cookie cutters must feel lonely in their drawer; we only use them at Christmas, but yet we have so many other non-Christmas cutters. As some people think cut outs are laborious to make because they need to be chilled, rolled out, cut and then baked, I really don't mind the extra steps. Do I make them other than Christmas? I have to; I married into the Halloween-pumpkin-cut-out-cookie tradition.

Some rules to this tradition that I have learned:

1. You CANNOT use your mother-in-law's Christmas cut out cookie recipe. That is strictly used for Christmas.

2. You must decorate your pumpkin cut outs with candy corn and M&Ms.

Growing up, the only things we used to decorate cut outs were frosting and sprinkles. Putting candy corn and M&Ms on a cookie? Isn't it sweet enough? No; these additions are required. I married into a let's-put-sugar-in-almost-everything family. I have learned to stand up to my mother-in-law on the occasions when adding sugar has seemed like a sin. And then there are the times when I need to succumb to traditions that only happen once a year for tradition's sake.

Because of rule number one, my mother-in-law found an alternate cut out recipe to use.

Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

2/3 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

2/3 c. shortening

2 slightly beaten eggs

2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

1 1/2 t. baking powder

 

Form into a ball; chill overnight. Roll out to desired thickness. Cut out with pumpkin cutter. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Decorate with orange icing and adorn with candy corn and M&Ms.

 

I bought a bag of candy corn two weeks ago because I planned on making these cookies. What I forgot however, was that I REALLY like candy corn and putting them in the candy dish on the counter was a really BAD idea. I had to use rainbow sprinkles on half the cookies because I didn't have enough candy corn to decorate with- whoops! I also forgot to buy M&Ms.

 

My husband will be happy because I made cookies even if they're sans sugar coated chocolate. I think he'll live.
Happy Fall <3