Christmas Sugar Cookies

Name: Christmas Sugar Cookies
Yield: Varies by cookie size
Ingredients: 2¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; ¾ cup butter, at room temperature; 1 cup sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract, or vanilla & almond

7 ingredients•10 steps•Varies by cookie size

Cook's Illustrated

Ingredients

Instructions

1
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and reserve.
2
Put butter in large bowl of electric mixer.
3
Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with mixer or wooden spoon until mixture is light and fluffy.
4
Beat in the flour mixture until smooth.
5
Chill for one hour or until firm.
6
Roll small amount of dough at a time on floured surface to ⅛" thickness. Keep remaining dough in refrigerator until ready to use.
7
Cut into desired shapes and place on greased cookie sheets.
8
Bake in preheated 375°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until pale brown.
9
Remove to wire racks to cool.
10
Decorate with confectioners' sugar frostings tinted as desired and with colored sugar. For example, for Christmas tree shape, cover branch area with green, then embellish with contrasting spiral bands (garlands), and spot with other contrasting colors (the bulbs).

💡 Cook's Notes

See complete article on sugar cookies in Cook's Illustrated PDF file in FOOD RECIPES database under "SUGAR COOKIES for Xmas". See also: Fine Cooking #42 (Jan. 2001) at p. 68 Serve with ornamental icing.