How to Make Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are perfect for rolling out, cutting out in various shapes, and decorating. This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies and be given as gifts to friends and family. Here are a few easy steps to have you enjoying sugar cookies in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring Spoons
• Cooling Racks
• 1/2 tsp. lemons extract
• 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• Oven mitts
• 2/3 c. softened unsalted butters
• 2/3 c. sugars
• Measuring cups
• 1 egg yolks
• Cookie sheets
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/3 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 eggs
• Mixing Spoons
• Mixing bowls

Instructions

1. Combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Do not sift.

2. Beat the butter until creamy, then add the sugar, vanilla and lemon extract and beat for 1 minute.

3. 

   Beat in the egg and yolk.

4. Stir in the flour mixture only until incorporated. Stop stirring the instant the dough is uniform.

5. Form into a log, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours.

6. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

7. 

   Divide the dough and roll it out between two sheets of wax paper; make your cutouts. Only work with a little at a time. Keep the rest in the refrigerator to stay chilled.

8. Decorate the tops of the cookies with colored sugar, sprinkles, candies and other foods that won't melt in the oven.

9. Place the cookies on a nonstick baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes, or until they just start to turn golden around the edges. If cookies turn golden before 10 minutes have passed, lower the oven temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure not to skip the chilling step. This dough needs to be cold, cold, cold.

• The longer the cooking time, the crisper the cookie will be.

• Pure lemon oil, squeezed from the zest and available in many gourmet markets, is an excellent substitute for the lemon extract. It's better, actually, but more expensive and harder to find.