Cookie Tree Ornaments

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. 2
   Prepare 2 cookie sheets.
3. 3
   Beat the butter with the sugar and molasses until creamy.
4. 4
   Beat in the heavy cream.
5. 5
   Sift the flour with the spices and baking soda and then beat into the butter mixture.
6. 6
   Chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
7. 7
   Flour a pastry board or work surface and roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness for thin delicate cookies, or to 1/4-inch thickness for sturdy cookies to hang on the tree.
8. 8
   Cut out different shapes with 2-inch cookie cutters.
9. 9
   Make a small hole near the top of each cookie for hanging it from the tree with thread or ribbon.
10. 10
    Gather scraps of dough into a ball, chill and re-roll.
11. 11
    Transfer cookies to the sheets and bake them for 15 minutes for thin ones and 20 minutes for thicker ones.
12. 12
    Cool on a cookie rack.
13. 13
    Decorate the cookies with colored confectioners sugar paste, or multi-hued candies and sugar sprinkles.
14. 14
    If you do not use them immediately, store in airtight tins.