Basic Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are generally associated with the cooler holidays. I've probably decorated hundreds and hundreds of holiday cookies over the years.

I baked cookie bars last week for James to bring into work and his co-workers really enjoyed it and yesterday while we were grocery shopping I came across pumpkin cookie cutters in the seasonal isle. So I grabbed James' phone and looked up a recipe for sugar cookies, we had everything already at home, so we got the cookie cutter and now have 5 dozen sugar cookies!!!

Now I can not stress this enough PREP PREP PREP

if you don't you will regret it! 

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract *
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

*I use almond, you can use any flavor you'd like

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

For James to bring to work, i just put slices of parchment paper in between the layers of cookies.

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• food coloring
• 
  

In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring if desired.