Classic Cut Out Sugar Cookies

This is my go-to cookie recipe for making cut out sugar cookies. We make these cut out sugar cookies every year to decorate and set out for Santa. They keep their shape when you bake them and are just the right texture.

I'm also sharing my icing recipe to make pretty frosting on top that hardens!

Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Makes about 12-18 cookies depending on size.

Wet ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) softened

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Dry ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

• pinch of salt

Tools - Christmas cookie cutters, stand mixer

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F

2. Mix together the wet ingredients in a bowl with mixer or stand mixer (butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla). Mix until well blended.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder).

4. Slowly add in your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients bowl, mixing while adding.

5. You can place the dough in the fridge wrapped in saran wrap for about 30 minutes to help roll it out if needed but I often don't unless the kids are taking a while and need to make it firmer.

6. Flour your work surface and rolling pin and roll out your dough until about 1/4 inch thickness.

7. Use cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Place on non stick pan as you cut them out.

8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browning around the edges. Let sit on pan for 1-2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

9. Once cooled, decorate as desired.

Cookie Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

• 1 tablespoon milk

• vanilla if desired

  1. In a small bowl mix together the powdered sugar, corn syrup, and milk. You can add a small splash of vanilla if you would like but it's not needed, it's a very sweet icing.

  2. You can make two batches of this to frost these cookies. I make 1 batch like this and put in a plastic baggie and cut the tip off to outline the cookies. The second batch, I make a little bit thinner by adding a splash more milk. Once you outline your cookie you can "fill it in" with this second batch of frosting. '

This frosting is great for making a smooth hard icing for the cookies but you can still add sprinkles or other icing as desired as you are decorating.