Holiday Sugar Cookies

• 

  Maple & Ash

Sugar cookies are a holiday classic that take time and patience to cut and frost, but the product is always delicious and makes a fun gift. 

Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1 ½ cups Butter (soft at room temp.)
• 3 cups Granulated Sugar
• 3 ea. Large Eggs
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Bean Paste
• 5 ½ cups All Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

For the Frosting:

• 1 pound Confectioner’s Sugar/Powdered Sugar (1 box)
• 3 Egg Whites
• Optional Food Coloring
• Optional Sprinkles and Other Decorative Edibles

Preparation

Directions for the Cookies:

Step 1:

Sift together flour, baking powder and kosher salt. Set aside

Step 2:

In a kitchenaid bowl with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar

Step 3:

Once light and fluffy, add eggs one by one while scraping down sides of the bowl after each addition.

Step 4:

Add vanilla paste and paddle.

Step 5:

Add the sifted dry ingredients in 2 batches on low speed. Each time, mix together until just combined. (do not over mix) Wrap the dough in plastic wrap in a block shape and let chill for at least one hour. Pre-heat oven to 400F.

Step 6:

Roll out rested dough with a rolling pin on a floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut out with your favorite cookie cutter and line 1 inch apart on a parchment lined baking tray. Chill in the refrigerator once more on the tray for one hour before baking. Bake 6 to 8 min. in the oven and cool.

Directions for the Frosting:

Step 1:

Place the powdered sugar in a bowl with a paddle attachment (can also do by hand) Add one egg white at a time while mixing (waiting for the egg white to completely combine with the sugar) until just thick enough to coat the back of the spatula without dripping down.

Step 2:

Separate into different bowls to color. Dip the top surface of each cookie and let dry or add sprinkles while wet to stick to surface.