Sugar Cookies

Nothing tastes better or warms your soul than freshly baked cookies.  The kind that are not too firm, not too soft.  The crumbly kind that does not cause a mess.  That's my kind of cookie.

Today I baked my first batch of "from scratch" sugar cookies.  There is much for me to learn about baking especially from scratch.  It is such an art.  It's a dance of some sorts.  You dance with your ingredients, making sure each one is in step.  You slip up, something could go wrong.  There's nothing more disappointing than baking a nice batch of pleasant looking cookies and have them...well..suck.  I am happy to report that, though my cookies were not perfect, they were so good. They were at the perfect consistency, perfect balance of flavors.  The in-laws agreed as well.  Can I call it a win?  Cookie decorating is so fun.  I really had a blast trying different things.  I nuked some of the peppermint Hershey kisses in the microwave before attempting to pipe it on a cookie but it did not work out (the kiss wasn't melted enough).  At the end, I just heated some leftover vanilla frosting from the birthday cake I made for my tiny human (birthday post coming soon).

So here it is...the sugar cookie recipe :)

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 cup butter, softened**
• 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup egg*
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

**I will tell you this before you start...the butter makes a difference.  I did not know this before hand and had to Google to find out why my cookies were not as soft as anticipated. I nuked the butter in the microwave and it was basically runny but I used it anyways.  If you are wanting your cookies to be a bit firm, then no worries.  To soften the butter the "right" way, just let it sit out and soften naturally before beginning to bake.
* To measure 1/4 egg, beat 1 large egg in a small bowl.  You will be using 4 tbsp of it for this recipe.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
3. In a separate bowl, combine butter and sugar and mix until very smooth. 
4. Add egg and vanilla extract to butter/sugar mixture.
5. Gradually add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix well.
6. Scoop dough onto baking surface (cookie sheet or surface with nonstick foil on it).
7. Bake for 5-8 minutes or until lightly browned.
8. Let cool then decorate and enjoy!

Now, if your cookies ended up puffing up instead of flattening out, take a spoon or flat kitchen utensil and flatten them slightly as soon as they get out of the oven.  They will cool to that shape.

What is a sugar cookie photo shoot without necessary holiday swag?! :)

I hope you enjoyed these cookies if you tried to make them.  Practice makes perfect!

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