A big part of the holiday season - besides decorating, shopping, and fitting more events that seem humanly possible into your schedule - is cooking. And not just the big feast you'll have on the day you celebrate - but treats you make ahead of time. Ahem, did somebody say cookies? That's right, make these Christmas cookies with the family and it will enhance your yuletide joy.

What Makes These Christmas Cookies So Soft

Secret ingredients? No. Just the right amount of certain ingredients.  A teaspoon of baking power helps provide the fluffiness you want in a nice, soft cookie. Next, you use margarine instead of butter because margarine spreads less as you bake. Finally, the two whole eggs adds moisture that makes your cookie absolutely delicious.

Christmas Cookie Ingredients

• Flower: These classic Christmas cookies start with all-purpose flour.
• Baking powder: Baking powder acts as a leavener, which means it makes the cookies rise.
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor, but it won't make the cookies taste salty.
• Sugar and margarine: White sugar is beaten with margarine. You can use butter if you prefer.
• Eggs: Two eggs lend moisture and bind the dough together.
• Vanilla: Two teaspoons of vanilla extract is the perfect finishing touch.

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Leave A Few For Santa

You can get as many as 48 cookies out of this recipe. That's probably plenty for your family and friends to enjoy. Plus, if you follow specific instructions, you can store them for later. That's good news if you want to get them out closer to Christmas but don't have as much time to cook as the holiday approaches. Plus, you might want to leave a few out for 'ole St. Nick on Christmas Eve. After all, he could always use a good snack as he makes all those deliveries.