I am not usually a cookie baker, especially sugar cookies. Not that I don’t like cookies, I DO, but I usually have better luck with other baked goods. When I found this recipe from Annie’s Eats on Pinterest, I really wanted to try my hand at sugar cookies one more time. These turned out really well and were a great addition to my Christmas cookie/candy tray, hence the red and green frosting!
For the cookies:
4½ cups all-purpose flour
4½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
1½ cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 tsp. vanilla extract
For the frosting:
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
7-8 tbsp. milk (plus more, as needed)
Food coloring (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and whisk together to blend. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients mixing just until incorporated and evenly mixed. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.
After the chill time, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare 2 cookie sheets. Scoop a scant 1/4 cup of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Place the ball on the cookie sheet and press it out gently to form the cookie. Leave about 2 or 3 inches in between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes and then cool on a wire rack.
For the frosting, place the confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter, vanilla, and milk to the bowl and whisk until smooth. Whisk in additional milk as necessary, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Tint with food coloring if desired. Use an offset spatula or spoon to frost the cooled cookies.
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And, yes, I have had this recipe to post since Christmas, but others seemed to take a front seat. Oh, well, at least you will have this for NEXT Christmas.
Please join me at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday.
Picture Perfect Cooking 
These look great. I, too, need a better sugar cookie recipe. I might try these. Thanks for linking to Must Try Monday.
Hi,
I’ve started My Sweet Party, where I every month host a party with a theme (MAY theme is CHOCOLATE). The party is ongoing the entire duration of the month and then I will choose my top three favourites and feture those blogs. I would LOVE you to join My Sweet Party!
http://meandmysweets.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/my-sweet-party-chocolate-cake-love.html
XXX
Johanna
I just love Frosted Sugar Cookies, they are really some of my favorites. Hope you have a great holiday week end and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Frosted sugar cookies are a favorite — and yours look so pretty and so Christmasy!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Please visit again.
Those cookies look great– the frosting would much all the difference! And I love the Christmas theme.
These sugar cookies look fantastic, as does the frosting! Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday!
I love sugar cookies, but I am usuall too lazy to frost them. This year I will definitely make some frosting, yours look fabulous. Thanks for linking to the Baking Party. Hugs, Marty