Christmas Cookie Gift Tags

Photos and Text from Seton's Blog Pixel Whisk

These tasty Christmas cookies can double as gift tags, place settings or even ornaments! (Just keep your dogs and toddlers away from the tree or your ornaments will go missing.) ‘Tis the season for over-eating and giving, so happy holidays and happy baking.—Seton Rossini

This Food & Wine Christmas sugar cookie recipe is incredibly simple and the lemon zest makes them extra delicious.

In a small bowl, whisk the flour with the salt. Put the sugar in a food processor and process until very fine. Add the pieces of butter and process until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the egg, lemon zest and vanilla and process until smooth.

Add the flour mixture and pulse just until a dough forms. Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and pat it into a disk 1 inch thick. Chill until firm, about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick. Download the tag template here, then just cut the cookie dough around them to make perfect shaped cookie tags! Use a straw to make the hole.

Transfer the cookies to nonstick or greased baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between them. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges. Transfer the cookies to racks and let cool.

MAKE AHEAD The cookies can be stored in an airtight container between sheets of wax paper for 1 month.

Now that the cookie “gift tags” have baked and cooled, it’s time to decorate! You’ll need to make a batch of royal icing and use food coloring. (Double this recipe.)

Divide and color the royal icing, then place it in piping bags for decorating. You can also melt white chocolate, spread it on the cookie and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top!

To make the “To: and From:” on the cookie tags, you’ll need small rubber stamps (make sure you clean ’em). They can be found at most stationary or craft stores. I tried stamping the cookies with liquid food coloring, but I found that the black AmeriColor edible markers worked best! They allow you to apply an even coat of color on the stamp, and you can fill in any imperfections on the cookie.

What will my mom do first…eat her gift tag or open the gift?