Baking decorated sugar cookies has become a holiday tradition in our household. We make hearts for Valentine's, eggs for Easter, stars for 4th of July, fall leaves for Thanksgiving and snowflakes for Christmas. My daughter is having her Christmas party for Daisy Scouts today, so of course I had to whip up a batch of sugar cookies. I found this recipe several years ago online and it is by far the best sugar cookie I've ever eaten. Give it a try...
1 cup butter
3 oz cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
Cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar (room temperature butter and cream cheese works best). Add the egg and vanilla and beat well. Add the flour gradually and mix well. Divide the dough into 3 balls and roll out between layers of parchment paper. Put rolled dough in refrigerator for about 1 hour. Cut out with cookie cutters and bake for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
For the frosting, I use about 1 lb of powdered sugar. Add a dash of vanilla and gradually add water and mix until it gets to the consistency that you want. Coat cookies with frosting and decorate with sugar and any decorations you like.
