Judys Favorite Sugar Cookies Recipes

THE BEST ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

CLASSIC SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, the softened butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the almond extract and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Divide dough in half; shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap in plastic wrap. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Roll each disk on lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 2- to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters into desired shapes. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts at least 2 inches apart.
• Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• In medium bowl, beat 3 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla with spoon until smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too stiff to spread, add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time. Tint with food color. Spread frosting on cooled cookies. Decorate as desired with colored sugar or candy sprinkles. Let stand about 4 hours or until frosting is set. Store covered in airtight container at room temperature with waxed paper between layers.

SUGAR COOKIES FROM JUDY

Steps:

• 1. Blend Crisco, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• 2. Roll 1/8" thick on lightly floured board and cut with cookie cutter.
• 3. Bake in moderate oven, 375 degrees, on ungreased baking sheets for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• 4. Remove from pan immediately and sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Makes 6 to 7 dozen cookies.
• 5. VARIATIONS: Orange or Lemon Cookies - Use 1 T orange or lemon juice in place of milk and stir in 1 T orange or lemon rind. Spice Sugar Cookies - Add 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cinnamon with dry ingredients. Crunchy Cookies - Stir 1 cup very finely chopped nuts into cookie dough.

JUDY'S FAVORITE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together butter and sugar.
• Blend in vanilla and eggs.
• Add in flour, baking powder, and salt. I usually add in the first three cups of flour, with the baking powder and salt, then I slowly work in the other cups. It requires a lot of muscle near the end.
• Chill dough.
• On a floured surface, roll and cut cookies. For consistency in baking (and not burning) we use wooden rulers on either edge of the dough to make the dough all one thickness. The rulers keep the rolling pin at their level.
• Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Cookies will be golden along the edges, and still very soft in the middle when removed from the oven.
• Let cool on a cooling rack.