Classic Sugar Cut Out Cookies

Submitted by Muffy

Let's start out with the most loved holiday cookie! This recipe makes cut-out cookies that are like the bakery at the grocery store - be sure to roll the dough thick - a generous 1/4 inch thickness. To have them deliciously chewy like the store, cook until they are just browned on the edges - they will be soft inside still, and they will be fragile and breakable until they cool down.

this is a recipe i have hand written on an index card and was a hand-me-down from my grandma. I do not know where it originated.

these can be made in a few ways - you can sprinkle coloured sugars on top before baking (my kids love to do this and take a batch to their school class each year), or you can bake them plain and decorate with buttercream icing and sprinkles once cooled.

1 3/4 cups butter, softened
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 t vanilla
1 t salt
5 1/2 cups flour
2 t baking powder
decorating sugars or buttercream frosting (optional)

Beat butter until soft and fluffy (2 minutes). Add eggs 1 at a time and mix well. Add sugar, vanilla, salt, baking powder and blend. Add flour in stages mixing well after each stage. (mixture will be very thick - use a wooden spoon at the end if necessary) Chill dough at least 1 hour. (follow my tips in the tip thread for easy rolling between sheets of waxed paper)

Roll dough ¼ inch thick and cut with cutters. (option – decorate unbaked cookies with colored decorating sugars and bake) Bake in 350F oven for 6-8 minutes until cookies are just brown on the edges. Cool completely.

or Decorate plain cookies with buttercream frosting (you may add food color to the icing if desired)