BEST GLAZED BUTTER COOKIES (AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN)

Best Glazed Butter Cookies (America's Test Kitchen) image

The geniuses at America's Test Kitchen have created tender, crispy cookies that roll out easily. Cream cheese-a surprise ingredient-gives the cookies flavor and richness without altering their texture. For a dough that's incredibly easy to handle, this recipe uses the "reverse" creaming method: incorporate slightly softened-not melted-butter into the flour and sugar (rather than first creaming the butter and sugar). If desired, the cookies can be finished with sprinkles or other decorations immediately after glazing. From Cook's Illustrated Magazine (November, 2003).

Provided by blucoat

Categories Dessert

Time 40m

Yield 40 2 1/2-inch cookies

Number Of Ingredients 9

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (12 1/2 ounces)
3/4 cup superfine sugar (5 1/2 ounces) or 3/4 cup granulated sugar, that has been processed in a food processor 20 seconds (5 1/2 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon table salt
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into sixteen half-inch pieces, at cool room temperature (about 65 degrees)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tablespoon cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (6 ounces)

Steps:

FOR THE COOKIES: In bowl of standing mixer fitted with flat beater, mix flour, sugar, and salt on low speed until combined, about 5 seconds. With mixer running on low, add butter 1 piece at a time; continue to mix until mixture looks crumbly and slightly wet, about 1 minute longer. Add vanilla and cream cheese and mix on low until dough just begins to form large clumps, about 30 seconds.
Remove bowl from mixer; knead dough by hand in bowl for 2 to 3 turns to form large cohesive mass. Turn out dough onto countertop; divide in half, pat into two 4-inch disks, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate until they begin to firm up, 20 to 30 minutes. (Can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 2 weeks; defrost in refrigerator before using.).
Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out 1 dough disk to even 1/8-inch thickness between 2 large sheets parchment paper; slide rolled dough on parchment onto baking sheet and chill until firm, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, repeat with second disk.
Working with first portion of rolled dough, cut into desired shapes using cookie cutter(s) and place shapes on parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until light golden brown, about 10 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking time. Repeat with second portion of rolled dough. (Dough scraps can be patted together, chilled, and re-rolled once.) Cool cookies on wire rack to room temperature.
FOR THE GLAZE: Whisk cream cheese and 2 tablespoons milk in medium bowl until combined and no lumps remain. Whisk in confectioners' sugar until smooth, adding remaining milk as needed until glaze is thin enough to spread easily. Drizzle or spread scant teaspoon glaze with back of spoon onto each cooled cookie, as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 106.2, Fat 5.1, SaturatedFat 3.2, Cholesterol 13.6, Sodium 19.5, Carbohydrate 14.3, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 8.2, Protein 1