Sugar Cookies Sandys Recipes

LEMON SUGAR COOKIES WITH SANDY'S COLORED SUGAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the lemon zest and juice and mix well. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to butter mixture and mix to combine. Shape into a log and wrap in heavy-duty plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Divide the sugar between 2 small resealable plastic bags. Add 8 to 10 drops of 1 color of food coloring to each bag. Shake vigorously to distribute and color the sugar. Put the colored sugar into 2 separate plates.
• Slice the log into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Dip the cookies on 1 side into the sugar, making 12 of each color. Arrange the cookies on baking sheets, spacing evenly, and bake until lightly browned, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, then remove the cookies from the pans. Cool completely on wire racks before serving.

SANDIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the water and vanilla. Stir in the flour and pecans until well blended. Cover dough and chill for at least four hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Shape dough into walnut sized balls or crescents. Place 2 inches apart onto unprepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden. Roll in confectioners' sugar while still warm.

SOFT CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be relatively soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.
• Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the 2nd rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. If it's sticking to the bottom, run your hand under it to help remove it- see me do this in the video above. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with 2nd piece of dough. (Note: It doesn't seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)
• Arrange cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
• Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing or easy glaze icing. Feel free to tint either icing with gel food coloring. See post above for recommended decorating tools. No need to cover the decorated cookies as you wait for the icing to set. If it's helpful, decorate the cookies directly on a baking sheet so you can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help speed up the icing setting.
• Enjoy cookies right away or wait until the icing sets to serve them. Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. Plain or decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days when covered tightly at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

SANDY'S SUPER SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Beat butter and white sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy; beat in vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture on low speed until dough is just-combined.
• Divide dough into 4 portions; refrigerate 3 portions. Roll remaining portion out on a lightly-floured work surface to 1/4-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut dough into desired shapes and transfer cookies to prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until slightly golden at the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat rolling, cutting, and baking process with remaining dough portions.

SUGAR COOKIES, SANDY'S

Steps:

• 1. Mix and sift flour, salt, powder and nutmeg. Set aside. Combine oil and sugar in a bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and all sifted ingredients at once. Make into 3/4 inch balls. Dip into additional sugar. Place sugar side up 3" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Press flat with fork like you do for peanut butter cookies. Bake at 375 degrees 10-12 min and remove immediately to cool. Can be frosted or left plain.