Best Iolas Sugar Cookies Recipes

THE BEST ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

IOLA'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• To make cookie dough: In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat together butter and 1/2 cup sugar for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Reduce mixer speed to medium. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until combined. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in 2 batches, beating until incorporated after each addition. Press dough into 4-inch disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
• To prepare oven, baking sheet: Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• To roll cookies: On lightly floured work surface, roll dough out to 1/4-inch-thick circle. Cut into rounds using 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Space rounds 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with some remaining sugar.
• To bake cookies: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until just golden around edges. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Gather scraps. Reroll dough. Repeat with remaining dough and sugar.

CLASSIC SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat the superfine sugar and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes; beat in the egg, then the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix on medium-low speed until completely incorporated. Divide the dough in half, pat into 2 discs about 1/4 inch thick, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Let the dough sit at room temperature for a few minutes to make rolling easier. Roll out 1 disc of dough at a time between 2 pieces of parchment paper until 1/8 inch thick. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and arrange about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake until the cookies are golden brown on the bottom, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets until firm enough to transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Gently gather any scraps of dough into a ball and press into a disc; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate the disc until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour. Cut out as many cookies as possible and bake.
• For the royal icing: Beat the confectioners' sugar, meringue powder and 1/3 cup water with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Beat in the food coloring if using. (The icing can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.)
• Decorate the cookies with the icing; top with decorating sugar and sprinkles if using.

SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and baking soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in additional sugar. Place on greased baking sheets; flatten with a glass. Bake until set, 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.