This has been my go-to sugar cookie recipe for years now. I love to bake these cookies for Christmas every year. My family loves them so much that we have also started making them for birthdays, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and sometimes even St. Patrick’s Day (basically any holiday that I have cookie cutters for). Store-bought sugar cookies have so many artificial ingredients, so even though these cookies aren’t exactly healthy, I still feel better about serving these than something I would buy at the store. I also make my own frosting for the cookies which literally takes less than a minute and is so good. I prefer not to use food coloring for the frosting so we just add fun colored sprinkles. I hope your family enjoys these cookies as much as we do :)

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened

1 and 1/3 cups white sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

zest of one half lemon

Instructions:

Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest and set aside

Cream together butter and sugar in an electric mixer on medium until smooth

Add dry ingredients to the mixer and combine on low/medium speed until dough forms

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight

When ready to bake:

Preheat oven to 400

Dust your work surface with flour

Cut dough into thirds working with one-third at a time

Roll dough out to 1/4-1/2 inch thickness

Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter (save unused dough and re-roll)

Place cookies 1 inch apart on non-stick cookie sheets (I use and love these baking mats)

Bake until cookies are ever so slightly browned at the edges, 6-8 minutes depending on size and thickness, watch closely

Transfer to wire rack and cool completely before decorating

Frosting Recipe

1 cup of powdered sugar

1-2 Tablespoons milk

1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients. Stir until smooth.

Dip cookies into frosting and coat completely

Add sprinkles

Let dry completely

Can store in ziplock bags