Sugar Cookies

Rebecca and I made our anual batch of Christmas cookies.  We made the dough on Wed.  Then we baked and decorated them on Thurs.  I used the same recipe I always use from Betty Crocker.  Simple and good.  They turned out well.  Yummy and pretty.  And it was so much fun to have Rebecca help this year.  She had a blast.  She especially liked doing the sprinkles and eating M&Ms :) 

We used frosting and decorations for most of the cookies.  We did a few without frosting...decorated them before baking.  This batch made 50 cookies.

Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Granulated sugar or colored sugar (optional)

Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375ºF. Lightly grease cookie sheet.  Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2- to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Sprinkle with granulated sugar (if not frosting). Place on cookie sheet.  Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.  Frost and decorate.