O (Sugar Cookie) Christmas Tree, How Lovely are Your Branches

Merry Christmas and God bless us, every one!

My sugar cookie Christmas tree looks a bit sad and pathetic.  I was too tired by the time I started plying icing to do a good job, but the cookies are delicious, if I do say so myself.  Plus this is a much easier project than say, gingerbread houses.  If you had time and energy, you could do a Christmas tree forest!

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp vanilla paste

1/3 tsp almond extract

2 1/4 cups flour

Cream together softened butter and cream cheese.  Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Stir in egg yolk and flavorings, mix well.  Gradually add flour and mix well.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for about 45 minutes or so.  When dough is chilled, roll to about 1/8″ thickness and cut shapes as desired.  Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes, until cookies are set and golden around the edges.  Carefully transfer baked cookies to wire racks to cool completely before decorating.