Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Rolled sugar cookies ready for decorating. With a new method for mixing there’s no need to soften the butter or chill the dough before cutting out cookies!

This great recipe was provided by Land O’Lakes. Go to http://www.Landolakes.com for more holiday recipes.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¹/₄ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1 cup cold butter cut into chunks

1 large egg

1 ¹/₂ teaspoons vanilla extract

¹/₂ teaspoon almond extract

How to make

1. STEP 1

   Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

2. STEP 2

   Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl; set aside.

3. STEP 3

   Place sugar and cold butter into bowl of heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat at medium speed until well combined. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract; beat until well mixed. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed until just combined.

4. STEP 4

   While removing dough from bowl, knead to incorporate crumbs and form a smooth dough. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness.

5. STEP 5

   Cut into shapes with 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Place onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until just beginning to brown around edges. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.

Tip #1

If planning to cut with intricate cutters, chill dough 30 minutes before rolling and cutting. This ensures your cookies will hold their detailed shape.

 

Top 10 List of “do-ables”

This year has dealt a tough hand on our pre-Holiday gift preparations. No doubt I’m not the only one pinched for time. With under 10 days until Christmas Day, I’m hoping friends and family will grant us the gift of the 12 days of Christmas!

My Top 10 list of “do-ables” includes:

10: Order NOW gift bags and tags—large, medium and small. Stock up on cute jars for mixes and Sugar Scrubs.

9: Toast a boatload of nuts and seeds for maximum flavor in all things baked.

8: Bake biscotti in large quantities. Double Chocolate Pecan will be the flavor-of-2016 for all my hot beverage seeking friends and family.

7: Homemade Caramel Corn ‘n Nuts will be perfect to gift with a good book or movie. I’ll make two batches.

6: Choose from a wide array of options and prepare Sugar Scrub for those who apply their sugar rather than savoring it.

5: Friends living by their onesy love to savor the season. Prepare jars of DIY muffin-mix. Include a six-cup muffin tin and attach the stir-in options.

4: Prepare homemade fruit syrups  AND vast quantities of homemade Pancake or Waffle Mix to divide among friends with children. Don’t be afraid to make the mix with half whole wheat flour!

3: These Make-It-Yours cookie options will delight. Draft a grocery list to have the options at-the-ready.

2: Gift fresh-baked Cheddar Casserole Bread. Add a mini-tub of homemade Southwest Butter

1: While working on gifts 2 to 10, get your bread machine in gear– you’ll be ready when guests arrive with Fruit of the Vine Rosemary Olive Snack Bread.

More tips and recipes from Red Star Yeast