Cool Cutouts Cookies

This is one of Austin's favorites.
Cool Cutouts Cookies
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake: 8 to 10 minutes per batch
Chill 2 to 24 hours
Oven: 375 degrees
Makes: 25 cookies

Utensils: measuring cups, 2 small bowls, waxed paper or plastic wrap, rolling pin, ruler, assorted 2- or 3-inch cookie cutters, cookie sheet, hot pads, pancake turner, wire cooling rack

Ingredients:
1 18-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
paste food coloring
Coarse decorating sugar, if you like

How to make:
1. Open package of cookie dough. On a lightly floured surface knead the 1/4 cup flour into the cookie dough until combined. To knead, use your hands to push against the dough. Then fold the dough, turn it, and push against it, repeating until smooth. Divide dough into three equal portions. Leave one portion white. Place remaining portions in 2 separate bowls. Use your hands to mix food coloring into each portion, adding it slowly until the desired color is reached (colors lighten slightly when dough is baked).

2. On a lightly floured surface form a mound by dropping Small amounts of each of the 3 portions of dough close together in a random pattern using all of the dough. Shape the mound into a ball. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Chill dough in refrigerator 2 to 24 hours.

3. Turn on the oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, use the rolling pin to roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about 1 inch between cookies. If you like, sprinkle cookies with coarse sugar.

4. Put cookie sheet in oven. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookie edges are light brown. Use the hot pads to remove cookie sheet from oven. Use the pancake turner to transfer cookies to the cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Turn off oven. Cool cookies completely. If you like, stir a little food coloring into the frosting and use to decorate cookies.

Try these color combinations: Red, green and plain dough for Christmas; red, pink, and plain for Valentine's Day; red, blue and plain for the Fourth of July; orange, yellow and plain dough for Halloween.

Note: Paste food coloring can be found with cake decorating supplies.

Nutrition facts per cookie: 93 cal., 4 g. total fat (1 g. sat. fat), 6 mg chol., 86 mg sodium, 13 g carb., o g fiber, 1 g. pro.
Daily values: 2% calcium, 2% iron
Exchanges: 1 Other Carbo., 1 fat

1 15- to 16-ounce can vanilla frosting, if you like