beautiful aren't they?

Round one. Ricotta Cheese Cookies. 3 hours, cookie dough in my hair, hair in my cookie dough...(ha ha, just kidding) and I even found helpers for the sprinkle part. These happen to be my favorite Christmas cookies! Please enjoy the recipe below.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
15 ounces ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

ICING
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bow, with the mixer a low speed, beat the sugar and butter until combined. Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).

Reduce speed to medium and beat in the ricotta, vanilla and eggs.

Reduce speed to low. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat until dough forms.

Drop dough by level tablespoons, about 2 inches apart; onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 15 minutes or until cookies are very lightly golden (cookies will be soft).

When cookies are cool, prepare icing. In small bowl, stir confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Spoon icing on cookies and sprinkle with colored sugar or candy sprinkles.