Need a GREAT Sugar Cookie Recipe!

[Indianamom2]

I love decorating sugar cookies at Christmas, but I need a really great recipe. I prefer cookies that stay nice and soft and chewy, not crisp.

Anyone got a truly great recipe they'd like to share?

[bubbaray]

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/sugar_cookies.php

[thomma]

Check out The Best Rolled Sugar Cookie recipe at www.allrecipes.com

Kim
ds&dd- 7 1/2!

[larig]

It's not exactly a sugar cookie, but I'm going to try these King Arthur Flour Holiday Butter Cookies.
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/holiday-butter-cookies-recipe

ETA: I almost posted this very same question a couple of days ago, so I'm going to follow this with interest! Good question, OP!

[liz]

Check out The Best Rolled Sugar Cookie recipe at www.allrecipes.com

Kim
ds&dd- 7 1/2!

I came on this thread earlier to ask about sugar cookies and I saw this recipe. I made it tonight. They came out really good, but I think I will add more sugar (someone posted that they added 3 cups total instead of the 2 cups called for in the recipe). I also doubled the amount of vanilla to 2 tsp instead of 1 tsp.

Thanks for posting.

[liz]

I came on this thread earlier to ask about sugar cookies and I saw this recipe. I made it tonight. They came out really good, but I think I will add more sugar (someone posted that they added 3 cups total instead of the 2 cups called for in the recipe). I also doubled the amount of vanilla to 2 tsp instead of 1 tsp.

Thanks for posting.

ETA: I don't add sugar icing to my cookies, just a sprinkle of colored sugar. That is why I think it needs more sugar in the cookie itself. I would imagine if you added icing to the top or lots of colored sugar, the cookie would be just fine.

[NewfieNat]

I love these! They are a sugar cookie but not quite typical. I usually don't make the icing but it does add a nice touch.

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/easter_egg_cookies.php

[infomama]

Check out this blog. To die for.
http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-sugar-cookies-recipe-and-tips.html

[happymom]

I just made decorated cookies for DD's birthday today and they came out adorable if I can say so myself :loveeyes:. OK, I must learn how to resize...that is huge!
http://images5a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp633%3A9%3Enu%3D334%3B%3E858%3E767%3E WSNRCG%3D359%3A7352%3C4336nu0mrj

I have experimented a lot with cookie decorating, and I think I finally got it down pat.

Heres my cookie recipe- I like this one because the cookies dont grow in the oven, so they stay true to shape, kwim? I would probably add cinnamon next time, just to give it some extra flavor. They are not very sweet, but thats because I always decorate them with a sweet icing.

3 sticks margarine (I'm sure butter would be fine too)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
5 cups flour

Cream margarine and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. Add flour gradually and mix only until blended.

Preheat oven to 350.

I do not refrigerate dough before rolling.
I roll my dough between two sheets of parchment paper so nothing sticks to the rolling pin. The bottom piece of parchment paper is cut to fit a cookie sheet. After dough is rolled out, cut as many shapes as you can fit. Peel away excess. Transfer the parchment paper with cutouts onto cookie sheet and pop into oven. I find this way so much easier than trying to transfer a cutout to a cookie sheet without it stretching or breaking.

Bake at 350 about 13 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
This recipe yields about 75 cookies, depending on their size.

Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup hot water
2 tsp light corn syrup
(I would add orange extract next time to go with cinnamon cookies)

Whisk in a bowl. Add coloring and decorate.

if you've read this far and you want to know more...
Here's what I do:
I divide the icing into cups and add Wilton's gel colors- they are very vibrant and do not dilute the icing. But regular food coloring would work too. After I have all my colors, I transfer them to small plastic squeeze bottles- also Wiltons- from Michaels. They are cheap and great.

Use the bottles to carefully decorate your cookies. An easy way to do this is to pipe and outline of all your cookies first. Then once the outline has dried, go back and "flood" your cookies- just add some hot water to your squeeze bottle (only a little!) so the icing is more liquidy. Squeeze onto cookie and use a knife to gently move the icing around until the cookie is fully decorated.

Any questions, just ask! Its easier than it seems!

[Melaine]

HappyMom those are gorgeous! I am about to make some, although I will probably go the plain and simple route with just some sprinkles on the tops!

[crl]

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/The-Best-Rolled-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Over 3,500 reviews with an average of 4 1/2 stars out of 5. We've made them several time and really like them!

Catherine

[egoldber]

Another vote for allrecipe's Best Sugar Cookie. I've made them for years and people love them. I think they are plenty sweet, although I am not that fond of super sweet things.

[theriviera]

I've tried so many recipes and I always have trouble with them - particularly rolling and cutting. This one is my fave so far - tastes amazing!

http://savour-fare.com/2009/12/24/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-holiday-sugar-cookies/

Recipe
Sugar Cookies
Adapted from from the LA Times Cookbook, originally served at the Valley Hunt Club in San Marino, CA (where I took swimming lessons when I was five)

1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
zest of 1 lemon
3 eggs
3 2/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder

Cream butter with sugar, soda, salt, and flavorings until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time. Add flour and baking powder and beat until combined. Chill the dough until firm, but if you leave it in the fridge at least overnight or for a few days, the color and flavor will be better.

Roll out on a floured surface (the thicker you roll, the softer the cookies, and the dough is easier to roll out if it’s very cold) and bake at 450 degrees 6-8 minutes. Cool on racks, ice and decorate.

Icing
For the icing I just put a bunch of powdered sugar in a bowl and add heavy cream until it is thin enough to brush on smoothly – really a glaze more than a frosting. I brush it on the cookies and let dry.