Have I never shared my Grandma’s recipe for the greatest sugar cookies before? How is that possible? Well, here it is…
Velvet Sugar Cookies
1 lb. butter (no substitutes)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 c. sugar
2 egg yolks
1 T. vanilla
4 1/2 c. flour
In large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese.
Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla. Mix well.
Gradually add flour.
Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 3 hours.
Roll out on lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin to about 1/4″ thickness.
Cut out with cookie cutters.
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
This recipe is a favorite for us for all holidays–and it makes a ton, so we always cut out two holidays at a time and freeze one batch until we’re ready to decorate them. So around Halloween, we cut out witches and pumpkins, plus stars and bells for Christmas. Around Valentine’s Day, we do hearts as well as bunnies and eggs for Easter. You get the picture, right? Don’t forget to get your kids in on the act. If they can work with Play-Doh, they can do this.
As for decorating them, I’m not exactly an expert. In fact, some of ours turn out downright ugly. I look at the perfectly iced and glittered sugar cookie cut-outs in magazines and think it’s achieveable…but it’s so not, at least for me. Case in point, I thought I’d get fancy and sponge-paint our Easter cookies like these from Parents magazine:
And ours turned out like this:
Trust me when I say they were redeemed by our 4-year-old who suggested we put glitter on them to make them “fancy.” (And might I just add that the only person disappointed with the fact that the sponge-painting technique failed was ME. The girls had a great time, and were proud of how they turned out. Just another one of those moments when I’ve been humbled by our kids and reminded of what’s important!)
So if you’re like me and count yourself as one of the untalented ones when it comes to cookie decorating, here are some really great products and techniques to help you look like a pro!
Cake or Cookie Tattoos by Duff
Fondant Cookie or Cupcake Toppers by Two Sugar Babies
Edible Toppers by Ticings
Candied Flowers ala Martha
So even though it shouldn’t matter what your cookies look like, it’s still kinda fun if they do turn out perfectly. Either way, have fun baking something with your kiddos this Easter!
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