Let the baking begin...sugar cookies

With Thanksgiving only a few days away it is time to start baking. Since we will be traveling to North Carolina I knew I had to bake something that traveled well. So I decided to go with the classic and crowd pleasing sugar cookies. While I love the end result this is one recipe that takes a while to make. Below is my recipe which is perfect for sugar cookies with small details like the sharp points on the leaves I cut. This recipe does not spread or rise much like other cookies which makes it perfect for detailed cookie cutters.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

-          6 cups flour

-          3 tsp. baking powder

-          1 tsp salt

-          2 cups butter

-          2 cups sugar

-          2 eggs

-          2 tsp. vanilla

Getting the ingredients together

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cover baking sheets with parchment paper. (This will ensure your cookies do not stick.)
2. Cream butter and sugar (Make sure the mixture is creamy before moving to the next step.)
3. Add eggs to butter and sugar mixture one at a time. Beat well between each addition. Then add the vanilla.
4. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to butter and sugar mixture.

Adding the dry ingredients to the egg mixture

5. Chill at least 2 hours. (I chill overnight since this is what will keep the mixture from sticking while you roll it out.)

The dough ready to chill

 6.      Roll out  dough to about ¼” thick and cut cookies. (Remember this will be about the thickness of your finished cookies since this dough does not rise much.)



1/4" thick dough



Cookies ready to be baked on the cookie sheet

 7.      Bake for 8-10 minutes (You will want to watch your cookies closely. They will only brown on the edges and the remainder of the cookie will remain the light dough color. If you wait for the entire cookie to brown then they will burn. I usually cook them for 10 minutes.)

Cookies straight out of the oven

At this time you have finished your sugar cookies. However, they are not complete until the frosting has been added and the cookies are decorated. I will be completing this step tomorrow since it is very time consuming….stay tuned for additional directions.