5/5 (2)

Sugar cookies are delicious when they have the right amount of sugar in them. When sweetness is way too less, it doesn’t taste like a cookie. When the sweetness is more, the sugar overpowers other flavors in the cookie.

This is one of the easiest cookie recipes and anyone who has a simple hand mixer can do it. It doesn’t need fancy equipment like the stand mixer, which is costly. Also it can be eaten as it is, or it can be dipped in melted chocolate before consuming.

Few days back I arranged for a cookie decorating party for my friend ‘s kids. I made the cookies shown in the picture below. All the kids loved my cookies. What better compliment can I get.

Servings : 25 to 28 cookies

Ingredients:

1. Butter – 1 and 1/12 stick (3/4 cup, at room temperature)
2. Sugar – 3/4 cup
3. Egg – 1 (large, at room temperature)
4. Vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons
5. Unbleached All purpose flour – 2 and 1/2 cups
6. Baking powder – 1 teaspoon
7. Salt – 1/4 teaspoon
8. Semi sweet chocolate chips – 4 tablespoons (to drizzle over the cookies, optional)

Method:

1. First lets mix the dry ingredients and keep them ready. Take the all purpose flour, baking powder, salt in a bowl and mix them very well with a whisk.

2. Now take room temperature butter in a prep bowl. Do not use the microwave to bring it to room temperature. Leave the butter at the counter few hours before you start to make the cookie dough.

Using a hand mixer, beat the butter for a minute.

3. Now add the sugar and beat for one more minute.

4. Then add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat it for 2 minutes until all ingredients are mixed well. Also scrap the sides of the bowl and mix all ingredients well.

5. Now, divide the dry ingredients into 3 parts. Add one part of the dry ingredients to the above mixture and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Repeat this step again for the second and third part of the flour.

6. Knead the dough using your hand and divide it into two parts. Place one part of the dough (like disc shape) on a plastic wrap and seal it from all sides. Repeat for the other part of the dough. Now, place the cookie dough in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day…

7. Take the cookie dough out of the refrigerator the next day and place it in the counter for 30 minutes (Only then we will be able to roll out the dough). Dust both sides of the dough with flour and roll it into 1/8 inch thick dough.

Using different cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes of your choice.

8. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake the cookies for 11 minutes. After 11 minutes, the edges of the cookies will be in light brown color.

Tip : Use a good quality cookie baking sheet which is thick. Also if the baking sheet is darker, the cookies tend to get over baked. Hence use a light colored baking sheet.

9. Let the cookies cool down on the counter (after baking) for 20 minutes and then store it in an air tight container.