Recipe: Holiday Sugar Cookies

These cookies are a favorite amongst family and friends - one family member and one friend in particular! I have been making them for many years using most of these cookie cutters some of which belonged to my mother. The red and green ones are Hallmark and the small cutters, a recent purchase, are Wilton and are made to hang on the side of a cup, as shown.

SUGAR COOKIES

Description:
Tasty cookie that rolls out easily into any shape you like for any occasion. I roll these out thinly so that will be crisp when baked.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsps. baking powder
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten egg and milk. Sift flour and baking powder together, adding half of it at a time to the above mixture. Add vanilla. See Note.

Roll out 1/4" thick on floured board with floured rolling pin. [I use a floured silicone sheet like this one along with a floured rolling pin.]

Cut into shapes, place on ungreased cookie sheet and sprinkle cookies with your choice of colored sugar. [I do spray sheets with Pam and wipe off excess with a paper towel.]

Bake in a preheated 400' oven for 10-12 mins. [I use 350' for 10-14 mins.] Transfer immediately to a rack to cool. These cookies freeze well so can be made in advance.

Note: You may need more flour - use enough to just keep dough from being sticky. Mix until it pulls away from the side of the mixer bowl.  Dough rolls out well and makes great cookies in any shape. 

You can tint dough red and green for Christmas, orange for Halloween, red for Valentine's Day, green for St. Patrick's Day etc. Also great for cutting out numbers or letters for party favors. 

Variation: Add 3 ounces of melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate along with other ingredients for chocolate sugar cookies. You will need additional flour as well to attain the correct dough consistency.

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