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Holiday Sugar Cookies
Bake up a batch of Christmas trees, snowmen, and reindeer.
This classic sugar cookie recipe starts with a great basic butter cookie dough that provides the perfect template for decorating.
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- Yields:
- 50 serving(s)
- Total Time:
- 50 mins
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 c.
all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp.
baking powder
- 1/4 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1 c.
(2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 c.
granulated sugar
- 1
large egg, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
Cream of tartar royal icing
- 3
large egg whites
- 1/2 tsp.
cream of tartar
- 1 lb.
confectioners’ sugar
Assorted food colorings (optional)
Directions
Cookies
- Step 1In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In second large bowl, using electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg, then vanilla.
- Step 2Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Shape dough into 2 disks and roll each between 2 sheets of waxed paper to ⅛ inch thick. Chill until firm, 30 minutes in refrigerator or 15 minutes in freezer.
- Step 3Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using floured cookie cutters, cut out cookies. Place on prepared sheets. Reroll, chill, and cut scraps.
- Step 4Bake, rotating and swapping positions of baking sheets halfway through, until cookies are light golden brown around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Cream of tartar royal icing
- Step 1In large bowl, using electric mixer, whisk egg whites and cream of tartar on medium-high until foamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until just incorporated. Increase speed to high and beat until medium-stiff glossy peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Step 2Transfer icing to individual bowls and tint each with food coloring as desired; keep surface covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying out. With small spatula and piping bags, decorate cookies with icing. (Thin icing with a little warm water if needed.)
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