Always a favorite during the holiday season, this is a great cookie to make and decorate with the kids.
Ingredients:
Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cup sifted powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour, plus extra flour for rolling
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- ½ tsp salt
Frosting:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tbs of milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (also can use almond extract)
- Food coloring
- Sprinkles, candies, etc. for decorating
Equipment:
- Stand or electric hand mixer
- Large mixing bowl
- 2 Medium bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Flour sifter / sieve
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling pin
- Silicone mat/ parchment paper lined cookie sheets
- Wire racks
- Fork
Instructions:
Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredient mixture to the creamed butter mixture. Shape dough into a large ball or log and wrap in plastic wrap or place in a gallon size Ziploc bag. Chill dough for 2-3 hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Roll out on a floured surface to 1/8” thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes. Place cookies on a silicone mat lined cookie sheet. They will not expand too much, so it’s okay to place cookies close to each other. Bake for 6-8 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
Frosting: In a medium bowl, add powdered sugar. Add milk and mix with a fork until smooth. Add vanilla extract and mix. To get desired consistency, you can add more powdered sugar or milk. Be sure to mix well before adding more milk. Separate frosting into smaller bowls and mix in 1-4 drops of food coloring.
Frost with powdered sugar icing and decorate with sprinkles and candies. Let dry overnight before packing in containers. Best to separate layers with wax paper.