Kittencal's Buttery Cut-Out Sugar Cookies W/ Icing That Hardens

"You will not find a better sugar cookie anywhere you search, this will most likely be the only sugar cookie you will use, not only are these cookies buttery delicious, the dough is an absolute dream to work with, it rolls out easily and is easy to handle, also the cookies hold their shape when baked something many sugar cookies do not do --- make as many different colors as desired in separate bowls with the icing, the cookies must be completely cooled before icing --- plan ahead the dough must be chilled for at least 2 hours before rolling -- since these are topped with icing they are not a sweet cookie if you want a sweeter taste then increase the sugar amount"
 
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photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by SOgoodbakedgoods photo by SOgoodbakedgoods
photo by ABGor photo by ABGor
photo by fevaslo photo by fevaslo
photo by Bee S photo by Bee S
Ready In:
2hrs 4mins
Ingredients:
14
Serves:
35-40

ingredients

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directions

  • For cookies; in a large bowl combine butter with sugar, eggs, vanilla and almond extract; beat using an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.
  • In another bowl combine the flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into the butter mixture until well blended.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
  • Set oven to 400°F.
  • Line cookie sheets with parchment paper (do not grease cookie sheets use parchment paper only).
  • On a very lightly floured surface roll out the dough into about 1/4-inch thickness.
  • Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
  • Place cookies 2-inches apart on cookie sheet.
  • Bake 4-6 minutes.
  • Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely before icing.
  • For the frosting; in a small bowl mix the confectioners sugar with milk (start with 1-2 tablespoons, you will likely need more milk for the perfect spreading consistency).
  • Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until the icing is smooth and glossy (if the icing is too thick add in a small amount more of corn syrup).
  • Divide into as many separate bowls as you wish for different colours.
  • Add in food colouring until desired intensity is achieved.
  • Paint the icing over the cookies using a brush, or dip edges of cookies into icing.
  • Allow to set on waxed paper.

Questions & Replies

  1. It can be chilled longer
     
  2. I have done something terribly wrong and I'm hoping someone can clue me in. I've made this recipe for three years and the first two were fantastic. This year the cookies taste wonderful but are so fragile that many broke when picking them up to frost. Is this from under-cooking? Perhaps I rolled them too thick? Any thoughts would help as I want to make more this year.
     
  3. Amy it does not matter if salted or unsalted
     
  4. Hello! I want to make these cookies on Christmas with the family, but have everything all ready to go that morning. I know I can make the dough the night before, but should I just wait to make the icing while the cookies are baking/cooling or can i make it the night before? Also, can we pipe the icing instead of spreading it?
     
  5. Approximately how many cookies does this recipe make?
     
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Reviews

  1. I too was set to try a different recipe when I came across this one. This dough is fabulous to work with. The flavor is buttery without being too rich or sweet - the perfect foil for the icing. Mine actually baked up perfectly with a little crunch on the outside while the inside was softer. I subbed all vanilla as I am not a fan of almond flavoring. The cookies did not spread much at all. I did chill my dough well in addition to cooling my cookie sheet down between batches. The icing was just what I needed as I didn't really want to make a batch of royal icing. Instead of spreading it on with a spatula or putting it in a piping bag, I placed it in bowls with wide rims and held my cookies upside down and dipped them in. I was even able to dip some of the cookies so they had multiple colors on them by dipping one color, allowing it to dry and dipping the next color. My cookies were iced very quickly this way. It dried firm and glossy and did not smear or smoosh when I layered my cookies on a serving platter and covered them with plastic wrap for transport. An awesome recipe that has become my standard for sugar cookies.
     
  2. My newest favorite Christmas cookie. And..the frosting works wonderfully. <br/><br/>p.s..don't refrigerate for more than two hours. The dough will be virtually impossible to work with. I had to microwave mine to soften it a bit.
     
  3. deeelicious...but i'm lazy.after an hour of refridgeration I got a ziploc bag, put the dough in and got all the air out. then i rolled it into an log (inside the bag, rolling the dough on the counter) and cut circle cookies with floss. And I used margarine....(oops) Best cookie ever. Thanks!
     
  4. I really love this recipe! I have tried so many other cut out sugar cookie recipes and this one always comes out perfectly! I don't use almond extract, I just replace with more vanilla, since most customers I work with want a vanilla flavored cookie. Thank you so much for sharing!!
     
    • Review photo by SOgoodbakedgoods
  5. Just a great cookie! Easy to work with and taste fantastic. Listening to Bon Jovi while baking makes a better cookie I think.
     
    • Review photo by fevaslo
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Tweaks

  1. Avoid tough cookies...... use powdered sugar in place of flour to roll out cookies!
     
  2. I use meringue powder in the icing instead of corn syrup
     
  3. I made these with my boys and my neighbor. So delicious and so tender of a cookie. I did a little tweak by using only vanilla (I hate almond). Also, I added 3 tablespoons of brown sugar. When I rolled them out instead of using flour, I used powdered sugar. I have always preferred powdered sugar when rolling anything sweet.
     
  4. These are hands down the best sugar cookies I have ever tasted or made! I make them every year for Christmas now. I even did them this past Valentines day and added strawberry extract instead of vanilla to the icing & dyed it pink! They were a HUGE hit! Try these and you will never make another sugar cookies again. Be sure to let the icing sit for at least an hour to harden on the cookies before stacking them. :) Thanks for another perfect recipe Kittencal!
     
  5. I made my cookies closer to 1/8inch. The 1/4inch that the recipe calls for made mine way to big and puffy. But they taste amazing!
     

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