Blue Ribbon Winner Holiday Cutout Cookies Recipes

MARTHA'S BLUE RIBBON SUGAR COOKIES - CHRISTMAS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until well mixed.
• Add 2 eggs to the creamed mixture. Mix well.
• In another large bowl, mix sifted flour, baking powder and salt together. Add to creamed butter mixture. Mix well.
• Add in grated orange rind, and mix well.
• Make into a ball, and chill in bowl covered with saran wrap, for at least 2 hours, or overnight in the refrigerator.
• When ready to bake preheat the oven to 350.
• With a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick on a very lightly floured surface.
• Make into desired shapes using cookie cutters. (I dip my cutters in flour before cutting each cookie, so they don't stick). If you don't have cookie cutters, you can use the bottom of a glass instead. Brush off any excess flour before putting them on the cookie sheet, if there is any.
• Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. You may use parchment paper if you like.
• Bake for 8 minutes (or you may preheat the oven to 300, and bake for 10 minutes).
• Let cookies cool on wire racks.
• Decorate.
• Store in a covered plastic container, or cookie tin.

BLUE RIBBON SOFT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beting well after each addition. Blend in the oil and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture; mix well. Chill dough in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.
• Shape dough in balls the size of a walnut. Place balls about 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake in 350 oven 10 to 12 minutes or until done. Remove from baking sheets: cool on racks. Makes 7 dozen.

ORANGE SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 c granulated sugar, 1 c powdered sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
• 2. Add flour, peel, cream of tartar, baking soda, cardamom, ginger, and salt to a separate bowl.
• 3. Slowly add flour to sugar/butter mixture. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms.
• 4. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours or until firm.
• 5. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
• 6. Roll balls in sprinkling sugar or granulated sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
• 7. Flatten balls with bottom of a drinking glass.
• 8. Wipe the glass with a damp cloth to prevent sticking.
• 9. Bake for 12 to 13 minutes or until light golden brown.
• 10. Let cool for 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet. Cool completely before storing.

SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Cream butter and sugar.
• 2. Blend in egg.
• 3. Add flour a little at a time with baking powder. Add vanilla.
• 4. Mix until all flour is combined.
• 5. Wrap in plastic wrap. Chill 2 hours or more.
• 6. Slice dough in half. Keep the rest chilled until ready to roll.
• 7. Roll dough one part at a time to a 1/4" thickness.
• 8. Cut with cookie cutters. Save the scraps. While the cookies are baking, roll out the scraps and cut additional cookies.
• 9. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 - 12 minutes.
• 10. Move cookies to a cooling rack after 5 minutes to completely cool.
• 11. Decorate with icing and decors.

BLUE RIBBON SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Mix margarine and sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg and extracts. Mix in soda and cream of tartar, and then add flour. Wrap in a disc and chill for at least an hour, but no more than 24 or it will dry out.
• Roll to 1/4" thickness and cut with desired cookie cutters. Leave room between cookies on baking sheet ( I use parchment) because they do spread. Bake 8 minutes till set, but not browned.
• Frost with cream cheese frosting, or any other flavor if you like, and decorate with sugars or decors.
• Note: Since every oven varies, it may be a good idea to bake a few at first to determine how long a batch will take in your oven. Underbaking will cause cookies to break, and overbaking will make them crispy.

BLUE RIBBON SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sift together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, oil, confectioners' sugar and white sugar until well blended. Stir in the eggs, vanilla and lemon extracts. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until well blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet. Flatten cookies to 1/8 inch thickness using the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Colored sugar may be used if you do not plan to frost cookies later.
• Bake for 9 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.