Recipe help needed: a good cookie recipe for cookie cutters

[CiderLogan]

We got some cute holiday-themed cookie cutters, and I want DD to experience her first cookie-making afternoon soon. I need a recipe that is relatively easy, holds up well when cut in shapes, and, of course, tastes delicious! Any suggestions? Thanks!!

Jenny
Mom to Julia, 8/03
...and another one due 5/29/06!

[ribbit1019]

Well, my sugar cookie recipe is not easy, at all. I have cheated and purchased the pre-made dough rolls before! lol
But really I am bumping this because I would love an easy sugar cookie recipe too.

:)

Christy
"My Mommy" to Maddy born 06/09/04
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and soon to Little Man due 03/02/06
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[RwnMayfair]

I don't think mine is extremely hard, but it's not the easiest one out there either. It has to chilled in the fridge for at least a couple of hours, but you can also put unused dough back into the fridge to store if you don't get them made all at once. And it makes thinner sugar cookies that you decorate with colored sugars and such, it doesn't work with frosting. We like them though, and my mother used to make them every holiday season and my brother and I would decorate them. :) A whole tray my brother decorated hit the floor one year before baking, and the cookies survived. (Only some of the decorations on them did though - my brother puts them on pretty thick.) So I just make them anyway, even though they aren't the easiest. ;)

Anyway, here it is in case you were interested. I tend to use a KitchenAid mixer to make the dough, though you don't have to.

Sugar Cut-Outs

1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter (or you can use shortening)
1/4 cup milk
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine dry ingredients and sift together or mix together well. Set aside. Cream butter well, add sugar and cream again. Add eggs and vanilla and mix. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk to mixture. Chill dough for two hours minimum. Roll out small portion of dough at a time on lightly floured board. Decorate unbaked cookies with colors sugars and edible decorations. Bake on cookie sheets at 425 degrees for 9 minutes.

The baking time can vary depending on how thin they are when they go in - thinner ones need less time, thicker ones more. This recipe doesn't make very thick cookies well, if you're looking for thick ones, but they are nice, thin, sugary, crispy ones. :)

-Melissa

Taran, November 20, 2003
Elowen, August 20, 2005

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[JBaxter]

Our favorite gingerbread "people"

1pkg Duncan Hines Delux spice cake mix
2tsp groung ginger
2 large eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup all purpose flour
Dark raisins for decoration
Combine all ingrediants except raisins , mix well refrigerate for 2 hrs
preheat over 375 roll dough to about 1/4 in thickness on lightly floured surface cut w/ cookie cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet press on raisins for eyes & buttons
bake 375 for 8-10 min allow to cool several min on cookie sheet before moving to cooling rack

We have also not used raisins and decorated them with icing ( works better w/ older kiddos)

Have fun we make gingerbread girls and boys

[jpang]

I've searched around for a cookie cutter recipe and really like this one:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/108973

I've made it twice with my 2 year old (most recently this past weekend), and the cookies have turned out great both times. I don't make the icing-- we use sprinkles instead. Two things: Let the dough chill for longer than 1 hour (I've make the dough a day or two ahead and let it sit in the fridge). Roll out the dough between lightly floured sheets of parchment paper.

These cookies are very tender because of the addition of a tiny bit of sour cream and baking powder. They keep well. My daughter helps me with the cookie cutting and with the decorating-- she really enjoys it. The first time we made the cookies, she was upset when I "hid" them in the oven, but now she understands that we're baking them.

One final note-- I also use baking sugar, which is a little more finely ground than regular sugar. Don't know if that makes a difference.

If someone else tries this recipe, let me know. I'd like to find out if it's a good recommendation for others or if you find the dough finicky. Have fun!

HTH

[CiderLogan]

Thanks for the recipe ideas! Now I just need to choose which one to do....

Jenny
Mom to Julia, 8/03
...and another one due 5/29/06!

[nd93]

I use the sugar cookie recipe from the Land o' Lakes butter box! It's on their website, sugar cookie cutouts. It and the accompanying frosting recipe are very good!

[August Mom]

Sugar Cookies

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1. Beat eggs for 5 minutes.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients in the order given.

3. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Roll somewhat thick. Cut in shapes

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, just until set, not brown.

5. Frost and sprinkle with colored sugar.

This is actually my SIL's recipe. I have never been a very good sugar cookie baker, but DS was really into making them and SIL's cookies are always good. This recipe is great. And, don't be afraid to roll the dough thick.