Sugar Cookies II
Source of Recipe
by Millie, from Food Network Kitchens
Recipe Link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_25247,00.html List of Ingredients
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly soft
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus as needed
For Decorating:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
About 1 tablespoon milk
Food coloring, if desired
Sprinkles, candies, cored sugar as desired Recipe
Whisk the egg and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside.
With a hand held mixer in a large bowl, cream the butter until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, add both sugars, and continue beating until light, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl again, if needed, then add the egg mixture, beating for about 1 minute. Sift the salt with the flour. Reduce the mixer to a low speed and then add the flour mixture, mixing just until blended.
Turn the dough out of the bowl. Divide the dough in half and place each half between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment or waxed paper. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a disk about 1/4-inch thick. Slide the dough/parchment sheet onto a flat cookie sheet, or on the back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.
Evenly space the racks in the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Place 1 disk of the cookie dough on a clean work surface and peel off the top sheet of paper. Cut cookies with a 1 1/2-inch round or a decorative shaped cookie cutter directly on the parchment. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined or non-stick baking sheet, spacing them about 1-inch apart. Repeat with other sheet of dough. Any excess dough can be re-rolled, refrigerated, and cut.
Bake until the edges of the cookies are a light golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.
For decorating: Whisk the confectioners' sugar with just enough milk to make a thick icing. Transfer icing to a small plastic bag. Press the icing into a corner of the bag and snip off the corner with scissors to make a small opening. Gently press the icing onto the cookie to make a simple pattern. Decorate as desired. Set aside for about 1 hour to let the icing harden.
Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Copyright 2003 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
Yield: about 5 dozen cookies
Variations:
Walnut Orange: Add 3/4 teaspoon grated zest of orange with the sugar, and 2/3 cup finely chopped walnuts with the flour.
Pecan-Cinnamon: Mix 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon with the flour, and add 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans with the flour. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies before baking with a mixture of 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
Almond: Reduce the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon and add 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract. Add 3/4 cup chopped toasted sliced almonds to the dough with the flour. If desired, for decoration, brush the tops of the unbaked cookies with some egg white and press a few un-toasted almond slices onto the top of each cookie prior to baking.
Millie's notes:
any roll~and~cut cookie I make anymore, I always roll the dough and refrigerate, rather than just putting the havles in fridge and then rolling the cold dough. If the dough get too soft and harder to work with, simply re~roll it between your papers and tuck back in fridge a bit, alternating the two batches until you get it all used.
I use powdered sugar rather than flour for dusting the paper or board that I am rolling cookie doughs on.
For a chewier softer cookie, I start to look at them around 8~9 min’s…if the edges are starting to brown, and you touch the middle with your finger and it dents but is not mushy, they’re done.
I don’t ever cool my cookies on racks either; I simply lay out parchment paper on the counter top and move the cookies to that to cool. If I don’t have parchment, I use a flat plate.
and for decorating; obviously you can use the frosting of your choice; store bought or other & decorate anyway you want.
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