Sugar Cookies

Sarah and I have been making sugar cookies since she was old enough to push a cookie cutter into dough. We make and decorate these cookies together every Christmas. And when I am not looking she still pinches the dough and eats it raw.

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 egg, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla

2 3/4 cups plain flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1. Mix together flour, baking powder and cream of tartar and set aside.

2. Blend together butter and powdered sugar. Add beaten egg and vanilla and mix well.

3. Gradually add flour and mix together. Flatten dough into a disc, place in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for two hours or overnight.

4. Roll dough out on floured board and cut into shapes. If dough gets too soft, put back in fridge to harden. I usually cut the disc into half and work with only one part while the other stays in the fridge.

5. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 -15 minutes.

6. Allow to cool in pan for 5 - 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

7. Decorate cooled cookies.

Note: I use a baking stone for all my cookies so I never have to grease.

We use a simple powdered sugar and water glaze that we color with food coloring.