I'm a big fan of red, blue ... the cookie can be left plain, embellished with different types of frosting, or topped with your favorite sprinkles, like gold and silver dragée, sparkling sugar ...

When you think of your childhood, you probably think of summer vacations with freshly cut grass, bike rides with your friends, and the sugary goodness of Pop-Tarts.

Simple sugar cookies need not be boring. We love punching up their flavor with ginger, cinnamon or apricot jam, and topping them with everything from colorful sprinkles to sticky-sweet icing.