It’s a great time for Wayback Wednesday; I have so many of my favorite holiday recipes that were first published on my site before people I know were even using the Internet. No, I am not kidding! These might not have been that long ago but I first put them online in 2004 and added them to my blog 5 years ago; you know when we didn’t know each other? :) It’s the perfect time to share again; I simply LOVE these cookies.
For many years I would spend days each holiday season making decorated sugar cookies. I started the tradition in my twenties with a girlfriend and we made hundreds of cookies that we rolled, cut out, decorated and gave to friends. I continued on with that tradition for many years when my kids where small and it became a fun family holiday experience for all of us as they got old enough to help and they enjoyed sharing them with our neighbors, friends and family.
But one day, there were no little girls wanting to help mommy make snowman or Santa sugar cookies and I was ready for something simpler. I’ll keep that big box of cookie cutters for the time when my children marry and have their own children I can make them with, but for me…these are not just the next best thing; I think they are even better!
I’ve been using this recipe for several years and I know the neighbor who gave it to me had used it forever but no matter because I think they are perfect for me today. They may be simpler to make than cutout cookies, but have such a great taste and texture; so good, so light and so crisp. They are perfectly wonderful with just a dusting of sugar but for the holidays I’ll have a bunch of holiday colored sugars and sparkle cookie decorations from King Arthur Flour’s website handy. For something even more special, I still love to add a layer of frosting before those sprinkles!
One year I volunteered to host the South Metro Cooking Club Meetup at my home and we spent an afternoon with an assembly line of cookie making. Knowing I would have up to 15 people in my kitchen making and decorating cookies, I thought this recipe ideal and it was quite the production. Two people making batches of dough, two making frosting, two managing the baking and the rest of us either decorating or maybe just drinking wine and chatting up guests (yes, me…so?).
We had such a blast and this has become a regular tradition each year; fun, easy and with treats to take home…perfect huh?
Today is my oldest daughter’s birthday; she’s living in North Carolina now and seems even further away on special days like today. I wish her hands were here with me making cookies but I’ll just have to send her a batch this year. Try these cookies; you’ll see they really are the BEST sugar cookies. Even with wine. :)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup packed powdered sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- Pinch of salt
- 4½ cups flour
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
- 3-4 cups confectioners sugar; lighten up by whisking in a bowl, not sifting
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- Cream butter and add sugars and mix well. Blend in oil, eggs and vanilla, in that order. Mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture and beat til thoroughly combines. Roll into balls and flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from cookie sheets after a minute or two and then allow to cool completely.
- Beat butter for a few minute on medium speed.
- Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and mix on low speed until the sugar is incorporated.
- Add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for approximately 3 minutes.
- For a stiffer consistency add the remaining sugar. For a thinner consistency add the remaining milk 1 tablespoon at a time.
Combine ⅔ cup sugar and 2 Tbsp cinnamon
Combine ⅓ cup sugar and ⅓ cup maple sugar 3.2.2807
