Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

I love a good sugar cookie. Especially the soft variety. Browsing the internet I stumbled on this sugar cookie recipe: justbakedbyme.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/soft-frosted-sugar-cookies/  I knew immediately that I had to try it. If you plan on making this recipe, make sure you have a couple of hours.  It's not the fastest cookie to make, but it is a fantastic soft sugar cookie. Below is the very slightly adapted recipe:

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookie

For the Cookie:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 tsp vanilla extract

Sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt. 
Add the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer.
 Beat them together with the paddle on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, 2-3 minutes
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed. 
Blend in the vanilla.
With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the dry ingredients.  Mix just until incorporated and evenly mixed.
Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour. 
Preheat the oven to 350F about 20 minutes before removing the dough from the fridge.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, scoop a scant 1/4 cup of dough and roll into a ball.
Flatten the ball slightly with the palm of your hand and place on a greased baking sheet.
Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies at least 2-3 inches apart to allow for some spreading.
I only put 6 cookies per sheet. You can probably put more, I just didn't want mine to stick together.
Bake at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes or just until set.  Do not overbake!  The edges should be no more than very lightly browned (if at all).  The cookies should stay very white in color on top, with some browning on the underside.
Let cool on the baking sheet for several minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

 (This is what they look like right out of the oven. White and a slightly brown bottom)

For the frosting:
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted  
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Food coloring   optional
Sprinkles  optional

In a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed with the whisk attachment, until smooth, ~ about 20 seconds
Add confectioners’ sugar and salt.  Beat on medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, ~ 45 seconds
Scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Beat on medium speed until mixture is fully combined, ~ 15 seconds
Scrape bowl again and add vanilla. Beat on medium speed until incorporated, ~10 seconds.  Add your food coloring. I use the paste because it gives them a rich, beautiful color. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, ~ 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice as needed.
 Mix until it is well combined and one solid color
You can spread on the icing with a knife, but I prefer to put it in a piping bag and using a star tip to swirl it on. Add some sprinkles if desired and let them dry for a couple of hours. If you can wait that long!

Hope Santa enjoys these as much as my family does! 

I love a good sugar cookie. Especially the soft variety. Browsing the internet I stumbled on this sugar cookie recipe: justbakedbyme.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/soft-frosted-sugar-cookies/  I knew immediately that I had to try it. If you plan on making this recipe, make sure you have a couple of hours.  It's not the fastest cookie to make, but it is a fantastic soft sugar cookie. Below is the very slightly adapted recipe:

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookie

For the Cookie:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 tsp vanilla extract

Sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt. 
Add the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer.
 Beat them together with the paddle on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, 2-3 minutes
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed. 
Blend in the vanilla.
With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the dry ingredients.  Mix just until incorporated and evenly mixed.
Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour. 
Preheat the oven to 350F about 20 minutes before removing the dough from the fridge.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, scoop a scant 1/4 cup of dough and roll into a ball.
Flatten the ball slightly with the palm of your hand and place on a greased baking sheet.
Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies at least 2-3 inches apart to allow for some spreading.
I only put 6 cookies per sheet. You can probably put more, I just didn't want mine to stick together.
Bake at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes or just until set.  Do not overbake!  The edges should be no more than very lightly browned (if at all).  The cookies should stay very white in color on top, with some browning on the underside.
Let cool on the baking sheet for several minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

 (This is what they look like right out of the oven. White and a slightly brown bottom)

For the frosting:
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted  
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Food coloring   optional
Sprinkles  optional

In a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed with the whisk attachment, until smooth, ~ about 20 seconds
Add confectioners’ sugar and salt.  Beat on medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, ~ 45 seconds
Scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Beat on medium speed until mixture is fully combined, ~ 15 seconds
Scrape bowl again and add vanilla. Beat on medium speed until incorporated, ~10 seconds.  Add your food coloring. I use the paste because it gives them a rich, beautiful color. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, ~ 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice as needed.
 Mix until it is well combined and one solid color
You can spread on the icing with a knife, but I prefer to put it in a piping bag and using a star tip to swirl it on. Add some sprinkles if desired and let them dry for a couple of hours. If you can wait that long!

Hope Santa enjoys these as much as my family does!