Sugar Cookie

Sugar Cookie

My friend Liz makes these amazing sugar cookies.  She has shared this recipe and her talent in decorating the sugar cookies with so many in our community.  One Mother and Daughter even started their own cookie company, specializing in made to order theme cookies for Mother's Day, Graduations Baby Showers you name it and they create it.

I do a simple version myself normally a flower or my favorite at Christmas time, a snowflake.  They take a little extra time to frost and let set to apply the detail decorations. But this soft sugar cookie is definitely a labor of love and so worth it.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup shortening

3/4 cups sugar

2 3/4 cups flour

1 egg

1/3 cup sour cream

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

    1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream the butter, shortening and sugar.  Add in the egg, sour cream and vanilla mix until blended.  Add dry ingredients together and mix in with the wet.  Divide the dough in half, cover and chill for 2-3 hours.

Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inches thick.  Using cookie cutters cut into desired shapes and place on a cookie sheet using parchment paper or a silpat baking liner.  Bake at 375 degrees about 8 minutes or until the edges are firm and bottom is lightly brown.  Cool on a wire rack.  Frost when completely cool 

Powder Sugar Glaze

Powder sugar 

half and half cream

vanilla extract (if making white glaze use clear vanilla)

The glaze is not an exact measurement, its one of those things that I judge by look and constancy.  The glaze is spread over the entire cookie, let dry until completely set, usually overnight.  After the glaze has hardened you can then pipe a firmer glaze mixture to decorate the cookie as desired.  If using sprinkles to decorate apply before the glaze hardens.  Once the glaze has set sprinkles will not adhere. Have fun and be creative.  The more you make this recipe and decorate the better you will get.  There are several videos on the web you can watch to help you achieve the desired look of your cookies.  

Side note:  I often just pipe the thick glaze over the naked snowflake cookie and sprinkle with white or colored sugar crystals.  Its a great activity with kids, just put out the glaze and frosting in piping bags, sprinkles, and stand back! You'll be amazed.