A cookie recipe every baker needs

Nothing says the holidays like baking. And no holiday baking is complete without a batch of homemade butter cookies and frosting!

I came across the most delicious recipe a few weeks ago and finally got to try it out earlier this week at my first Christmas party of the season! This recipe is perfect for a cookie press (if you're an avid cookie maker and you do not have a press...you need one!) or a great excuse to pull out the rolling pin and cookie cutters.

To make these yummy butter cookies, you simply need:

• 1 pound of Land O Lakes butter (four sticks/one package)--make sure the butter is softened to room temperature
• 1 stick of margarine (yes...this recipe calls for both margarine and butter...not the healthiest of cookies, but they sure are tasty!)--the margarine should be softened to room temperature as well
• 5 cups of four
• Dash of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 3 teaspoons of vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Once you have your ingredients, cream the sugar, salt, butter and margarine. Slowly add the flour and vanilla. I used my trusty KitchenAid mixer for this process, but you can just easily use a hand mixer or a spoon--up to you.

Once combined, either load the dough into the cookie press or roll it out on a floured surface with a rolling pin and use your cookie cutters in the dough. Place the cookies on the pan of your choice (I prefer using Pampered Chef baking stones when making cookies, but that's just me!) and pop into the oven.

Pressed cookies only take between five and seven minutes to bake (cut-outs take closer to ten minutes). Of course, the cook time really comes down to your oven and your cookie preference (soft or crispy). These cookies are good at either consistency if you ask me!

While the cookies are baking, whip up frosting using powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Place powdered sugar in a bowl and add milk at one tablespoon at a time until you reach a thick spreading consistency. At that point, add some vanilla and food coloring if you wish.

Warning: these cookies are super addictive! But I hope that they add to your holiday cheer.