Sugar Cookies

The holidays would not be complete without making and decorating Sugar Cookies. As you can tell from the image above, I decorate cookies like a 5 year old. Actually, a 5 year old could probably do a lot better. I still draw stick figures for people. I didn’t do very well in art class.

Claudia received this recipe from a coworker (Stacey) a few years ago. It’s very simple and makes great tasting cookies. We prefer thicker, chewier Sugar Cookies. But you can easily roll this dough out to make thinner, crispier cookies.

You will need:

2 cups unsalted butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
6 cups all-purpose flour
Cookie cutters
Decorative sprinkles and/or icing (optional)

In a large bowl add butter and eggs

Add almond and vanilla

Turn on mixer and beat on medium speed

Slowly add in your sugar

Sift together flour, salt and baking powder

Slowly add to your wet ingredients

Mix until combined and dough pulls away from the edges

Roll dough into a ball on the counter

Separate into four

Roll each dough section out onto wax paper to the desired thickness

Again, thicker dough produce chewier cookies while thinner dough produces crispy cookies

Chill in the fridge for 1 – 2 hours

Use cookie cutters and press out desired shapes like this lovely holly

Or this cute Christmas tree

Place cut out shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Decorate to your little hearts desire

We used peppermint sprinkles and decorative icing

A 5 year old would be proud

Bake in a 350 degree fahrenheit oven for 8 – 10 minutes

Ensure you do not over bake the cookies

Cool on a wire rack

We realized afterwards that the peppermint sprinkles kind of melt in the oven

They still tasted amazing though

If you are using decorative icing, use it when the cookies are completely cooled

These cookies are great to serve for guests or boxed up as gifts

They also freeze very well in an airtight container

Happy Holidays!