Sugar Cookie Cutouts

By davidv

Christmas isn't Christmas without sugar cookies. To help you celebrate the holidays in a big way, try this recipe. It's a spin-off the traditional rolled cookies, but these cookies are softer, have a smoother texture, and they're really easy to make. They're delicious plain, iced, frosted, and/or topped with your favorite candies.

Tip: If you're using candies, add them to the cookies just before baking. Also, if your cookies lose their shape after baking, re-cut them while they're still warm.

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (using a paddle attachment if you have one), cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients. Mix until fully combined.

Divide the dough into 2 balls and flatten each into a disk shape. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough until it's 1/4-inch thick. Cut the cookies with your favorite shape cutters and place them 1-inch apart on a nonstick or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until light golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before removing them.