The Softest Sugar Cookies

The best gift to give and receive are baked goods. With the cost of living crisis here in the United Kingdom it is not feasible to get extravagant gifts or to spend a lot of money on them. I enjoy baking and I know that the cookie boxes I give to our friends will be appreciated and more times than not will be gone within a day or two.

I have never made sugar cookies before and this is my Dad's recipe as he used to be a baker and made all the Christmas cookies year after year but I thought I would attempt them and they are just as delicious as when he makes them. I also made homemade frosting and coloured them with food colouring. I wanted to test them out first before they had the go-ahead in my Christmas cookie box and so brought them into my University friends to try and they were gone before noon so I think that gives me the green light. I hope you and your family and friends enjoy them as much as we have this Christmas season.

Cookie Prep Time

20 Minutes

Frosting Prep Time

5 Minutes

Baking Time

10 Minutes

Total Time

35 Minutes

Ingredients & Tools

KitchenAid Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment

Cookies

Cookie Cutters

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened at Room Temperature

1 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Large Egg

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

2 Cups of All Purpose Flour

1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

Frosting

Food Colouring (Whichever colour you would like to use)

⅔ cup unsalted butter softened

2 oz cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

3 ½ - 4 ½ cups powdered sugar

Instructions - Cookies

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C with the rack in the centre.

• In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

• Using your stand mixer beat the butter and sugar together. Add the vanilla and egg and combine.

• To the butter mixture, add flour in 3 parts until full incorporated.

• Once combined divide the dough into 2 equal parts.

• Roll out on a slightly floured surface or place to between 2 sheets of baking paper.

• Cut out your desired shapes and place onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.

• Bake them in the oven for 10 minutes, or until the edges are beginning to turn golden.

• Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Instructions - Frosting

• In a large bowl, beat the butter until soft.

• Beat in the cream cheese.

• Add in the vanilla extract.

• With the mixer on low speed, mix in 2 cups powdered sugar. Continue to mix in the powdered sugar about ½ cup at a time until the desired sweetness is reached.

• Mix in the optional food colouring.

• Decorated cooled sugar cookies, either by spreading the frosting on each cookie.

• Please note that this type of frosting using a piping bag isn't ideal with this type of frosting.