Recipes and Cooking Bell-Shape Santa Sugar Cookies Be the first to rate & review! Use a piping bag to easily create Santa's iconic red and white suit. Grab the whole family for some decorating fun. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 14, 2016 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 35 mins Chill Time: 2 hrs Bake Time: 7 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 36 Yield: 36 to 48 cookies Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients ⅔ cup butter, softened ¾ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cup all-purpose flour 1 recipe Creamy White Frosting red decorating sugar black food coloring yellow food coloring Creamy White Frosting 1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (about 4 cups) 3 tablespoon milk Directions In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle. Preheat oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll one dough portion at a time to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2-1/2 to 3-inch bell-shape cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are very light brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. To decorate, spread cookies with red-tinted Creamy White Frosting; immediately sprinkle with red colored sugar. Using a decorating bag fitted with a ribbon tip, pipe a belt across each cookie with black-tinted Creamy White Frosting. Using a small round tip and black frosting, pipe buttons. Using a decorating bag fitted with a small round tip and yellow-tinted Creamy White Frosting, pipe a belt buckle in center of each belt. Using a decorating bag fitted with a star tip, pipe a zigzag of plain Creamy White Frosting at top and bottom of each cookie for ruffles. Creamy White Frosting In a large mixing bowl beat shortening, vanilla, and almond extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add about half of the powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in 2 tablespoons of the milk. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar and enough of the remaining milk to reach spreading consistency. To Store: Layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 74 Calories 4g Fat 10g Carbs 1g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 36 Calories 74 % Daily Value * Total Fat 4g 5% Saturated Fat 2g 10% Cholesterol 15mg 5% Sodium 49mg 2% Total Carbohydrate 10g 4% Total Sugars 4g Protein 1g Calcium 10.1mg 1% Iron 0.4mg 2% Potassium 11mg 0% Folate, total 12.1mcg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.