Christmas Sugar Cookies

Tonight, I made these Christmas sugar cookies for K since he missed yesterday’s cookie party. I've followed various sugar cookie recipes over the years, but Grandma Minnie’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies from Allrecipes is the best. The cookies come out soft and chewy. The only thing I changed was add a tad more of heavy cream to prevent the dough from being too dry.

For the frosting, I used Royal Icing, also from Allrecipes.com. Because I love the taste of lemons, I doubled the lemon extract. I highly recommend you do the same. It yields way more than you’ll need, so you may want to halve the recipe. 

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Grandma Minnie’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 8 Minutes

Ready In: 28 Minutes

Servings: 78

3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1-½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup white sugar

1 cup butter

1 egg, lightly beaten

3 tablespoons cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2) Over a large bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, sugar.

3) Cut in butter and blend with a pastry blender until mixture resembles cornmeal.

4) Stir in lightly beaten egg, cream, and vanilla.

5) Blend well. 

6) Dough may be chilled, if desired.

7) On a floured surface, roll out dough to ⅛ inch thickness.

8) Sprinkle with sugar; cut into desired shapes.

9) Transfer to ungreased baking sheets.

10) Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until delicately brown.

Royal Icing

Original recipe makes 2 cups

4 egg whites  
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons lemon extract

1) Beat egg whites in clean, large bowl with mixer at high speed until foamy.

2) Gradually add sugar and lemon extract.

3) Beat at high speed until thickened.