Nov 22

Nov 22 Sugar Cookies

Ethel's Sugar Cookies

This recipe is from the 1963 Betty Crocker's Cooky Book. This classic cookie book was the hallmark of my childhood Christmas kitchen. When this book was pulled of the shelf and cracked open it felt as if someone was sprinkling Christmas magic all over the house. This recipe and the Snickerdoodle recipe are my favorite from this special cookbook.

Just the Recipe

About 6 dozen cookies

400° | Sheet pans lined with parchment

Ingredients

1 1/8 c butter (room temperature)
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
3 eggs
3/4 tsp. vanilla
3 3/4 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Steps

Cream butter and sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla, mix thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Blend in gradually.
Chill overnight (or for a day or two). Pull out dough 30 mins before rolling out.

Cutting Out and Baking the Cookies

Roll 1/8" thick on lightly floured board.
Cut with 3" cookie cutters.
Place on baking sheet. (They won't spread much, about 1" apart is sufficient). Optional: Add sugar to the cookies. You can also leave bare and frost/decorate once cooled.
Bake 6-8 minutes or until cookies are a delicate golden color.
Allow to cool for 2 minutes on pan before moving to cooling racks.

Kitchen Acumen Tips

When adding dry ingredients, add a cup at a time. Pause and scrape the sides of bowl with a spatula if using a stand mixer to make sure the dry ingredients on the bottom mix with the wet ingredients.
Place the cookie cutters on the dough as closely together as possible. Use an icing knife or bench scraper to lift cookies to the baking sheets. (See photos below for how close I cut them.)
If the dough you've already rolled is too warm to roll again, chill for a few minutes.
Add sprinkles or granulated sugar before baking. (If you do this, shake excess sugar off the cooled pan before using again or it will burn).
This is our favorite recipe for making sweater cookies. We make a few dozen plain sweater cookies using this Made in America sweater cookie cutter. Then we pack a dozen or so to take to family and friends with frosting and fun shaped sprinkles for a fun ugly - or pretty- sweater cookie decorating activity. (Photos below.)