Recipe: Sugar Cookies

With Christmas just around the corner, it only seems appropriate to share our favourite sugar cookie recipe. I found the recipe over here and after making them for countless parties and holidays, I can say it is tried and true. These cookies never disappoint and are so soft and delicious. They truly converted me to loving sugar cookies, so much that I make sure to send most of them home with friends to avoid eating them all in one sitting. Here's what we do:

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 egg

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream soft butter and sugar in mixer until smooth. Add vanilla and egg. Mix. Combine flour and baking powder before adding to wet mixture. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until stiff, then remove from mixer and finish kneading by hand. Dough does not need to be chilled (however it can be if you need to make it in advance). Roll to desired thickness, cut and bake for 6-8 minutes depending on the oven. Let cool and frost with royal icing. 

Tip for royal icing: I use two egg whites when I make my icing and the juice of one fresh lemon. In order to get the consistency I want, I slowly add water and stir after the initial mixing is done. Separate into bowls, add food color and pour into a container that has a screw on tip. I prefer the wide mouth Wilton ones from Michael's. Different tip sizes will allow you to alter your details on your cookies. Tooth picks are also very helpful for moving icing where you want it to go. Last thing, patience! Decorating cookies is not for the impatient.