From Your Kitchen with Love: 8 Delicious Homemade Gifts

Glazed Holiday Cookies

"I've always been better at fixing a meal in a skillet than executing meticulous cookie-decorating techniques," says Ree Drummond, host of the Food Network show The Pioneer Woman. Luckily, Drummond learned a foolproof, nonfussy method from her mom, Gee, who would make these painted sugar cookies for almost any holiday year-round. Rather than frost after baking, Drummond brushes on a colored egg wash before the cookies go in the oven, which creates a stained-glass effect. "The trick is to use really soft bristles, like those on a watercolor paintbrush, so you don't scratch the dough," she says. The result is vibrant, even color that transforms a simple dough into a sophisticated gift.

Get the recipe: Glazed Holiday Cookies