Best Sugar Cookie Recipe (ever)

Yesterday I helped a neighbor make Christmas cookies for her to take to Alabama, since my back was hurting so much I didn't make any for us, I will change that today. I'm doped up on meds and am hoping that I'll be able to stand for a little bit. The cookie recipe that I use is from a friend of mine, she is so incredibly talented, make sure you check out her site.

Ingredients

• 6 cups flour
  3 tsp. baking powder
  2 cups unsalted butter
  2 cups sugar (white granulated)
  2 eggs
  2 tsp. vanilla extract or desired flavoring (I like almond myself)
  1 tsp. salt
• 
  

Instructions

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Mix dry ingredients and add a little at a time to butter mixture. Mix until flour is completely incorporated and the dough comes together. 

I like to separate my dough into thirds and place in between two pieces of parchment or wax paper. I then roll the dough to the desired thickness (I like thick) and then freeze dough on a cookie sheet for at least 10 min. I then cut my shapes out of the frozen dough. You'll never have sticky dough again! If you don't want to do it this way refrigerated dough and then roll it out the regular way.
1.   
3. Roll to desired thickness and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350
4. degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until just beginning to turn brown around the edges.  If using frozen dough you can cook cookies up to 12 minutes. I like my cookies a little undercooked 
5. This recipe can make up to 5-dozen 3 cookies.

For the icing I like this recipe. Check out the great tutorial and additional directions here

Glacé Icing 

1lb powdered sugar (about 3 3/4 C)
6T whole milk (low-fat actually works, but use whole if you can)
6T light Corn Syrup (6T is equal to 1/4 C plus another 2 T)
1 t extract (I use almond because I use almond in my sugar cookies) I've also added orange flavor and it was delish.
With a whisk, combine sugar and milk until smooth (no lumps!) Then stir in corn syrup and extract.




I finished most of the cookies, so here are some fun pictures. Remember, I am not a professional, just a mom having fun!

                                                       I like thick cookies!

I always bake on baking mats

                 

This is how I roll out my dough, in-between parchment paper, then freeze

Piping bags make the job easier

Work in progress

Blue is my new favorite Christmas color

The snowflakes are awesome, but they break so easily

Note the old fashioned santa design, you can order them here

Did you notice my cute Christmas light sprinkles on the houses?? So cute

I'll be adding more edible paper designs to the circles tomorrow

Enjoy!