Christmas Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cookie cutter

You are an artist, and the holiday cookie plate is your canvas! This year, we would like to give you the gift of sugar cookies that are easy to make, hold their shape when baked, and are genuinely tender and tasty, so even if you aren’t really an artist, your cookies will be everyone’s favorite gift this year!

Ingredients

  • 3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Royal Icing, as needed for decorating (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Set aside.
  2. Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed, scraping the sides as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until well-combined. Add the flour and beat just until combined.
  3. On a floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thick and cut out using any cookie cutter. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake until firm and just beginning to brown around the edges, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely before decorating, if you like.

CIA FOODIES

Roll-Out Sugar Cookies

Christmas Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cookie cutter You are an artist, and the holiday cookie plate is your canvas! This year, we would like to give you the gift of sugar cookies that are easy to make, hold their shape when baked, and are genuinely tender and tasty, so even if you aren’t really an artist, your cookies will be everyone’s favorite gift this year!

Ingredients

  • 3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Royal Icing, as needed for decorating (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Set aside.
  2. Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed, scraping the sides as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until well-combined. Add the flour and beat just until combined.
  3. On a floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thick and cut out using any cookie cutter. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake until firm and just beginning to brown around the edges, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely before decorating, if you like.

Copyright © 2024 The Culinary Institute of America

2 Comments

  1. letashannon@cox.net
    February 18, 2019 at 1:27 pm  ·  

    I tried this recipe today. It was very easy to make. However, the list of ingredients calls for 1 teaspoon of vanilla, but the instructions don’t say where to add the vanilla. I added at the same time I added the egg, as that is where other recipes I have used say to add vanilla. Would you please let me know where it should be added? Also, the vanilla flavor was not very strong. (I used real vanilla, not imitation.) I think another 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of vanilla would give it a more vanilla taste.

    I was very pleased with how easily I was able to roll out the dough, also.

    Thanks for any advice you might have regarding this recipe.

    Leta Shannon

    • laura.monroe@culinary.edu
      February 26, 2019 at 6:33 pm  ·  

      Hi Leta! We’re so glad this dough worked out for you. A good sugar cookie can be a tough thing! You were spot on with where to add the vanilla (we’ve edited the recipe!), thanks for pointing that out. You’re right that the vanilla flavor is subtle, but you can add as much or as little as you like. We also like these with almond extract for a nice change of pace!

Leave a Comment