Christmas Sugar Cookies

I apologize for being MIA for so long. We took a 3 week long trip to the Middle East! It was our second time there, first time for the Boo. I definitely lucked out with her being excellent on the long plane flights. Phew. On to the post! Cookies. Yum...

This is the easiest and best recipe I have found thus far.

Sugar Cookies:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Cookie cutters

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder, and set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the egg and extracts mixing until combined.
5. Add the flour mixture one cup at a time, mixing on low until just combined.  Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.  After the last addition, the mixture will look thick and crumbly.
6. Now you're ready to roll. Line rolling surface with wax paper.  Dust surface and coat your rolling pin with flour. Roll half of the dough on the flour coated surface and knead it together until smooth. Set the other half of the dough aside.
7. Roll dough out 1/4 inch thick. Dip the cookie cutter in flour and cut out as many shapes as you can. Remove scraps, re-knead and repeat with the rest of the dough. Make sure to re-flour the work surface.
8. Place cookies on prepared cookie sheets and place cookies in freezer for about 10 minutes.
9. Put the cookie sheets in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven when done and let cool for a couple of minutes on the baking tray. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorating:
I took a shortcut with the icing and bought the bottles.
Wilton cookie icing

 I used 2 egg whites to give the cookies a wash of color. I broke each egg white into a little jar and added 2 to 3 drops of food coloring. Mix well with a fork:
 

 I used a small brush to brush the colored egg whites onto the cookie:

Then quickly added sprinkles on:

 

I  use the Wilton cookie icing and followed its directions to warm it up in the microwave. Then I drizzled it on the cookie, back and forth. Beware that it's a super runny icing so choose your cookie designs carefully. To avoid the red icing mixing with the white icing (I didn't want pink!), decorate with one color first and let dry before using the second color:

Happy Holidays!

 

Good luck. 

=)