Sugar Cookies

This is the best recipe I have ever used for sugar cookies. Once you add the flour, handle it as little as possible for the most tender cookies.

Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter, softened NOT melted
2 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 t. almond extract OPTIONAL
3 eggs
1/2 t. salt
4 c. flour

Cream butter and sugar until very light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Add vanilla, almond extract, eggs, and salt. Beat well, another 2-3 minutes.

Very gently and by hand, stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Roll out and cut out shapes. Thicker dough results in softer cookies, thinner dough will make crispier cookies.  Place on greased cookie sheet.
OR scoop out by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass into sugar, then use to flatten the dough balls.

Bake at 400°F for 6-10 minutes, depending on thickness and how done you like your cookies.

Thursday Recipe - Spiced Sugar Cookies

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I am in love with spices. And sugar cookies. And my husband. And chocolate. Some of those I can share with you. Not my hubby and not my chocolate. Sorry. Not gonna happen.

But I will share these luscious and easy sugar cookies with you, especially with the holiday season happening. These do call for some out-there spices, so if you don't have them on hand, you can be safe and just use cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Most people have those in their kitchen, right? Or am I weird with my giant spice collection?

Never mind. If you like spices, give these a try. If you want to experiment with spices, this is a good recipe to try. Plus, they smell divine while baking. Like a slice of Christmas. Or Thanksgiving.

Spiced Sugar Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1/8 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. poppy seeds
1 t. anise seeds
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/2 t. ground cardamom
1/2 t. ginger
1 1/4 c. flour (You can use 1/2 whole wheat flour in this recipe)

For topping:
1/4 c. sugar
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. allspice or ground cloves

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This takes about five minutes. Don't skimp on this step or your cookies won't have that creamy soft texture of really good sugar cookies. Add the egg, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and spices. Beat until very smooth and fluffy. Gently stir in flour just until mixed.

Scoop dough by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Gently flatten with your hand until they're about 3/4 of an inch thick.

Mix together the topping ingredients in a small bowl or shaker. Sprinkle over the cookies before baking.

Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes, less time if you like them soft, more time if you like them crispier.

Cool and devour. Makes about 24 cookies.