Mimis Sugar Cookies Recipes

SOFT CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be relatively soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.
• Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the 2nd rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. If it's sticking to the bottom, run your hand under it to help remove it- see me do this in the video above. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with 2nd piece of dough. (Note: It doesn't seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)
• Arrange cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
• Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing or easy glaze icing. Feel free to tint either icing with gel food coloring. See post above for recommended decorating tools. No need to cover the decorated cookies as you wait for the icing to set. If it's helpful, decorate the cookies directly on a baking sheet so you can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help speed up the icing setting.
• Enjoy cookies right away or wait until the icing sets to serve them. Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. Plain or decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days when covered tightly at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

MIMI'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together Crisco and sugar
• Mix in eggs
• In a medium-size bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt
• Slowly mix flour mixture into creamed sugar; Mix well
• In a small bowl combine vanilla, sour cream and baking soda; Add to flour batter
• Cover and refrigerate overnight
• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• Drop large spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until sides of the cookies begin to slightly brown
• Remove from oven and transfer to cooling rack; Sprinkle immediately with sugar and allow to cool completely

GRANDMA MINNIE'S OLD FASHIONED SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) .
• Over a large bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, sugar. Cut in butter and blend with a pastry blender until mixture resembles cornmeal. Stir in lightly beaten egg, cream, and vanilla. Blend well. Dough may be chilled, if desired.
• On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Sprinkle with sugar; cut into desired shapes. Transfer to ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until delicately brown.

MIMI'S BISCORTA COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix flour and sugar and cut in shortening.
• Beat eggs slightly and add to mixture.
• Add baking powder, salt, vanilla and milk.
• Mix well.
• Roll dough (small pieces at a time) to about 1/4 -inch thick.
• Cut strips and twist dough like pretzels, or use cookie cutters and cut out desired shapes.
• Add sugar sprinkles before baking if desired.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven for about 15 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes, remove to rack and cool completely.
• NOTE: My guess is you could sprinkle with confectioner's sugar after baking.

MIMI'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and 2 cups sugar together add eggs. Mix in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Roll mixture into balls coat with remaining sugar. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and flatten with a greased glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. From "Country Quick & Easy." Copyright Gooseberry Patch. Used with permission of the publisher, Gooseberry Patch. All Rights Reserved.