I feel like there is never really a perfect time for sugar cookies, but I think that I make sugar cookies more this time of year than I do any other time of the year. I just enjoy baking and the great thing about sugar cookies is that you can mix them up, cut them into fun or simple shapes, bake them, and throw some delicious frosting on there.
There have definitely been times when they haven’t turned out as perfect as I have wanted. That is part of the baking process, learning from your mistakes. A couple of times I have mixed up the sugar and salt quantities. Then to make it even worse, I didn’t even try them and gave them out to people. They never wanted my cookies again. Or the time that I forgot that I was baking something while watching Kardashians. The smell didn’t even faze me, but the smoke alarm sure did. I will never make sugar cookies again without setting a timer because I had to air out the entire house and clean the oven, which is never a good smell. I always use my OXO Timer from Crate and Barrel because I can set three different timers on the same thing and it doesn’t shut off until I turn it off, trust me.
I am obsessed with The Alison Show and loved how she did Alison’s Cookie Party, An Online Course for Making the Perfect Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing . This girl creates the most detailed and amazing cookies that I have ever seen. I think my favorite is how she comes up with the most unique ideas for any event that she is hosting: Mr. Pumpkin Face, Motivational Sugar Cookies, Spring Sugar Cookies, and many many more. Don’t you just love how she really thinks about the little things that she can use these cookies for? Genius I tell you. If you are wanting to start making amazing cookies like Alison, then don’t you worry, you can click here to purchase her e-book.
I just wanted to make some cookies for a family party and keep them classic and simple. You really can’t ever go wrong with making some great cookies for a party because your guests can always just grab and go. If you’re like me though, you stack a dozen of them on your plate and eat them while sitting back people watching. I honestly could sit back on the couch, eat an entire tray of sugar cookies and not talk to anyone. I know, I have a problem and I’m okay with it.
So what are you waiting for? Throw these ingredients together and I promise this will be your new favorite recipe!
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Simple Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup cream, sour cream or buttermilk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 cups flour (add 2 tablespoons extra flour in humid/rainy weather)
Cream together butter and sugar until light an fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, almond extract, salt, and baking powder, missing until well combined. With mixer on low, add half the flour, mixing just until incorporated. Divide dough into two flattened balls, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Roll out chilled dough to desired thickness on a generously floured surface. Loosen dough from counter by sliding a spatula under dough before cutting shapes. Cut into desired shapes, dust off excess flour and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350º for 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not browned. Cool for 5 minutes then transfer to cooling rack. Decorate cooled cookies with your favorite frosting and sprinkles.
My Favorite Frosting
1/3 cup butter, softened but not melted
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
pinch of salt
food coloring, as desired
Cream butter slowly with powdered sugar. Add milk and continue to beat. Add vanilla, almond extract and salt. If needed, add more milk to make frosting a spreadable consistency. Color with food coloring if desired. Frost cookies and decorate as desired.
