In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy; stir in vanilla.
In small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and cinnamon.
On low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture alternately with whipping cream.
Divide dough in half; wrap in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 350°F.
Lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets with shortening or cooking spray.
On lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough until about ⅛ inch thick.
Cut with 3-inch floured cardinal-shaped cookie cutter.
On cookie sheets, place cutouts 2 inches apart.
Repeat with second portion of dough.
Place chocolate chip on each bird for eye.
Sprinkle top of back, crown, tail and wing of each bird with red sugar crystals; neck and eye with black sugar crystals; and beak with yellow sugar crystals.
Leave bottom breast of bird without sugar.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until light brown and set.
Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Kitchen Secrets
If you don’t have a cardinal-shaped cookie cutter, trace the outline of a cardinal from a coloring book or bird book onto waxed paper; or find one online, print it and cut it out. Place the pattern on the dough, and use a small paring knife to cut around it.