Whole-Wheat Christmas Cookies (with sugar!)

Adapted from Pillsbury Family Cookbook, I've made these Christmas cookies with whole-wheat flour. Yes, they do contain refined sugar, but we're allowed to treat ourselves in moderation. You can also experiment with natural food dyes when you're decorating them to add some fun colors.

Ingreadient

• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour (plus extra for rolling out the dough)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter (cold (1 stick))
• 1/3 cup sugar (granulated white)
• 1 egg
• 4 teaspoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 8 tablespoons heavy cream

Step by step

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl fitted with an electric whisk cream the butter and sugar together for several minutes. While the mixer is going add the egg, cream, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
4. With the mixer still going on low, slowly add the flour mixture until well mixed. Turn off the mixer and squeeze the dough together into a ball using your hands.
5. Using a rolling pin roll the dough out onto a floured surface until it’s about 1/8 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut desired shapes and place them onto an ungreased baking sheet.
6. Bake in the oven for 5 – 7 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately transfer to a cooling rack (if you have one) until cool.
7. Meanwhile, use a fork to mix together the powdered sugar and heavy cream in a medium sized bowl. Top cookies with a thin layer of icing and other decorations if desired.