Valentine's Sugar Cookies
I remember when I was little, my Mom would bake these sugar cookies for my class every Valentine's Day...I would strut into school like John Travolta carrying these homemade treats, secretly hoping that some kids wouldn't claim theirs so I could eat more...I was a greedy little one!
Isabel and I made these together and iced them with a flood consistency royal icing...if you don't like a sugary icing, these cookies are nice plain too!
To make the sugar cookies, you will need: butter, all purpose flour, icing sugar, granulated sugar, 1 egg, baking soda, cream of tartar, vanilla and almond extract.
First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees...then, using a stand mixer (with the paddle attachment) or a large bowl and electric beaters, beat 1 cup of softened salted butter, until creamy (I like to use salted butter for these cookies...I think it adds a bit more flavour...and who doesn't like flavour?!)
Next, add in 1 cup of icing sugar...
...and a 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, until light and fluffy.
Add in 1 egg...
...1 tsp. of vanilla extract,
..and a 1/2 tsp. of pure almond extract...beat until combined.
In a separate bowl, combine 1 tsp. of cream of tartar,
...1 tsp. of baking soda,
...and 2-1/2 cups of all purpose flour. Mix all together with a fork, then gradually pour it into the butter mixture...turning your mixer on to low to incorporate the flour slowly...you don't want your kitchen to look like it has been crop dusted!
Mix only until all of the flour has been blended in...you don't want to overwork your cookie dough.
Turn cookie dough out onto a piece of waxed paper, wrap it up and put in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Remove from fridge and roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface to the thickness you desire...we like fairly thin cookies, but if you like thick ones, don't listen to me! Cut out shapes using cookie cutters and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 7-9 minutes or until edges are golden brown (bake a bit longer if you have rolled your dough thicker than I have)...let sit for about 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire cooling rack.
While the cookies are cooling, prepare your royal icing...click on the following link for the recipe that I have found to be the best and tastes delicious too! Sally's Baking Addiction Royal Icing Recipe
Valentine's Sugar Cookies
1 cup of softened, salted butter
1 cup of icing sugar
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. of vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. of pure almond extract
2-1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp. of baking soda
1 tsp. of cream of tartar
1. In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy, add in the sugars and beat until light and fluffy.
2. Add in the egg and flavourings...beat until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, soda and cream of tartar...mix together then gradually mix it into the butter mixture just until all is combined.
4. Turn out onto waxed paper, wrap it up and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
5. Roll out dough to a desired thickness and cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
6. Bake on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a preheated 375 degree oven for 7-9 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
7. Cool on wire racks.
* Makes about 3 dozen (4") cookies