Sugar Cookies

This recipe is something I have been making for years. I found it in a magazine, not sure which one, many years ago, tore it out and stuffed it into my recipe box. My original recipe is stained and discolored from years of use!

The cookies are light and delicious with just the right amount of sweetness! They are perfect for a Christmas cookie exchange because this recipe yields about 7 dozen cookies.

Sugar Cookies

• 1 cup of softened butter

• 1 cup of powdered sugar

• 1 cup of granulated sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup of vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon of lemon or lime zest

• 4 ¼ cups of flour

• 1 teaspoon of baking soda

• 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar

• 1 teaspoon of salt

Decorations: white sugar, colored sugar, assorted sprinkles, frosting.

Sugar cookie dough, ready to roll!

1. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until light and fluffy.

2. Slowly add the oil, vanilla, and zest. Mixing until well blended.

3. Mix the dry ingredients together and slowly add them to the creamed mixture. Mix until well blended.

4. Turn the dough out onto waxed paper, wrap and chill for several hours.

5. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease a large baking sheet.

6. Remove about ⅓ of the dough from the refrigerator at a time.

7. Roll pieces of the dough into balls and place on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

8. Using the flat bottom of a glass dipped in sugar (see photo), flatten each dough ball to about 2 inches in diameter.

9. Sprinkle with more sugar or sprinkles, if desired, bake 8-10 minutes or until just set. (These cookies are very soft.)

10. Cool on baking sheet for several minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

11. Frost, if desired.

Easily achieve the perfect shape by squishing cookies down with the bottom of a glass!

Sugar Cookie Frosting

You can frost these cookies with store bought frosting mix or you can make a simple frosting like this one:

• 1 cup of powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon of milk

• Food coloring

1. Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl and add the milk stirring with a whisk until it is smooth and glossy. Add more milk if needed to create the desired consistency.

2. Add one drop of food coloring at a time stirring after each addition until it reaches the color you like.

3. Frost the cookies with an offset spatula.