Baking sugar cookies in
whimsical figures and decorating them is an annual holiday tradition
in many homes. In my own, family and friends have been known
to gather in the kitchen wearing silly Santa hats to bake scores
of cookies and decorate a whole day long! Even the little ones
get in on the act and are assigned to "sprinkles patrol"!
Holiday Fun
Sugar Cookies
- Cookie Dough:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose
flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 large egg
- Thin Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar,
sifted
- 1/4 cup 2% milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
- Assorted cake/cookie sprinkles
- In a medium bowl, combine
flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; set aside.
- In large mixing bowl,
cream together the butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.
Add egg and extracts and beat
well. Stir in flour mixture until just mixed. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375*F
(190*C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
- Divide dough in half.
Roll each half 1/4-inch think on a lightly floured surface.
Cut into desired shapes with
2 to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Place cookies about 2-inches apart on baking sheets.
Bake on top rack of oven for
8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
- For Thin Icing: Mix together
all ingredients until smooth and thin enough to brush onto cookies
using a pastry brush. If icing is too thick, add small amounts
of milk at a time until consistency works for you. Tint with
food coloring, as desired.
- Brush cookies with Thin
Icing and decorate with an assortment of cookie sprinkles.
Allow to air-dry completely
before storing in airtight container.
Makes 4 dozen cookies.
Nutrition Facts (per serving:1
cookie): 61.0 calories; 58% calories from fat; 4.0g total fat;
14.7mg cholesterol; 55.6mg sodium; 21.9mg potassium; 5.3g carbohydrates;
0.2g fiber; 0.3g sugar; 5.1g net carbs; 0.9g protein.
Copyright Hope Pryor,
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