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HAPPY NATIONAL SUGAR COOKIE DAY

National Sugar Cookie Day has to be one of my favorite days.  I have been making these cookies for over 40 years.  I made them for my children when they were growing up and now make them for my grandchildren.   I try to make them for each occasion during the year and on their birthdays
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Keyword Sugar Cookies, Decorated Sugar Cookies, National Sugar Cookie Day
Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 48
Calories 250kcal
Author pamelashank2015

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter softened (Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup flour for dusting
  • 2 lb bag confectioner sugar
  • 2/3 cup solid shortening Crisco
  • water
  • food coloring paste
  • sprinkles/other decorative candies

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. ( I use baking stones)
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In another large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on a medium speed ,beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and combine well. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, beating only enough to combine.
  • Shape dough into a ball, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Place the remaining flour into a small bowl. Sprinkle some of the flour onto a flat work surface. Scoop out about 3 tablespoons of the dough and place on surface. Dip cookie cutters and small rolling pin into the bowl of flour. Roll dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out the cookies and place on baking sheets. Continue to cut out all of the cookies, re-rolling the pieces of dough.
  • Bake about 10 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown around the edges. Remove baking sheets from oven and allow to set 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack.
  • To make the frosting, place the confectioner sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the shortening and 1/4 cup water. Slowly beat together on the lowest speed of mixer. Add additional water a tablespoon or 2 at a time and increase speed on the mixer. Beat until smooth.
  • Divide icing into separate small bowls. Using a toothpick or end of a plastic butter knife, add the coloring paste to each bowl. If icing is too thick, add drops of water and stir to desired consistency; if too thin, add small amounts of confectioner sugar.
  • Decorate cookies as desired.
  • May place icing in pastry bags also to decorate cookies.
  • Makes about 4 dozen

Notes

NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER. Calorie count provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.