Description
These delightful sugar cookies are perfect for celebrating love and friendship, featuring a soft texture and sweet vanilla flavor with a hint of almond.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature or softened slightly)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for sprinkling on top of cookies)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 3 cups flour or gluten-free flour blend
- 1 1/4 tsp xanthan gum (optional, only if using gluten-free flour blend that doesn’t contain xanthan gum)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cream butter and both types of sugar in a mixing bowl for two minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time, and blend until well incorporated.
- Mix in vanilla extract and almond extract (if using) until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
- Gradually add dry ingredients, one cup at a time, to wet ingredients, mixing until blended.
- Add 1-3 drops of food coloring for desired color intensity and mix until dough forms.
- Divide dough into two balls and knead each until color is smooth.
- Roll out the dough on parchment paper to a thickness of 1/4 to 1/3 inch, then cut out shapes with a greased cookie cutter.
- Place shapes on parchment-lined cookie sheets and chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 6-9 minutes, depending on size and thickness.
- Remove cookies when they are firm in the middle but not browned on the edges.
- Cool cookies on the sheet for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Once cooled, dust cookies with powdered sugar using a mesh strainer.
Notes
For a citrus twist, add zest from lemons or limes. Substitute almond extract with other flavored extracts for variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg