Description
Delicate Sugar Cookies bring nostalgia and sweetness to your kitchen, melting hearts with their classic charm. Crisp edges, buttery texture, and simple elegance make these treats perfect for celebrations or quiet moments of indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 pound (454 grams) butter (12 ounces salted, 12 ounces unsalted)
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
Instructions
- Transform softened butter and granulated sugar in a spacious mixing vessel, whipping vigorously until the mixture becomes ethereally light and voluminous, creating a pillowy texture.
- Gently introduce eggs one at a time, ensuring complete integration after each addition. Infuse the batter with aromatic vanilla and delicate almond extracts, blending until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
- Gradually incorporate flour into the wet ingredients, folding methodically to prevent overmixing. Continue adding flour until the dough naturally separates from the bowl’s edges, forming a cohesive, pliable mass.
- Sandwich the dough between parchment sheets, using a rolling pin to elegantly flatten to a precise quarter-inch thickness, creating an even canvas for cookie cutting.
- Calibrate the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C), allowing it to fully preheat. Employ festive cookie cutters to transform the rolled dough into charming shapes, strategically positioning each piece on a lined baking sheet.
- Slide the prepared sheet into the heated oven, monitoring cookies for 8-12 minutes until edges achieve a delicate, set appearance without browning. Transfer to a cooling rack, allowing complete temperature reduction.
- Craft royal icing by whisking powdered sugar with meringue powder, introducing vanilla extract and water. Manipulate liquid quantities to achieve ideal piping consistency.
- Embellish cooled cookies with intricate icing designs, exercising patience as the decorative layer solidifies over 6-8 hours before carefully stacking or storing.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth creaming, preventing tough cookies.
- Use high-quality vanilla extract for a richer, more complex flavor profile in your sugar cookies.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain clean cookie shapes.
- Experiment with different extract combinations like lemon or orange for unique flavor variations that complement the classic sugar cookie taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg