Irresistible Christmas Sugar Cookies to Bake and Decorate
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
tsp almond extract optional
For Decoration:
Royal icing, buttercream, or sprinkles
Directions
Step 1: Prep the Oven and Baking Sheets
Preheat your oven to 350F 175C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients
Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla and almond extracts if using.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
Step 6: Chill the Dough
Divide the dough into two portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling makes the dough easier to roll and cut.
Step 7: Roll and Cut
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough to -inch thickness. Use holiday-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Step 8: Bake
Bake for 8-10 minutes, just until the edges are set but not browned. Overbaking can make the cookies too crisp.
Step 9: Cool
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 10: Decorate
Once the cookies are fully cooled, unleash your creativity! Decorate with royal icing, buttercream, sprinkles, or edible glitter for a festive touch.