Sugar Cookie Recipes - the Simple and Super-Simple Way!

Cut it out! Holiday cookies are fun to make and bake, alone or in a crowd. Here are a few oh-so-easy recipes for these perennial favorites. These taste just like the ones Grandma used to make! Don't forget the icing (recipe below).

Start a tradition this holiday season!

SIMPLE SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (no substitutes)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 Tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar, and egg together. Use hand- or stand-mixer to blend till creamy. Add orange juice, vanilla, flour and baking powder. Beat well at medium speed until mixture is smooth as silk.

Cover bowl tightly, and chill dough for at least two hours.

Preheat oven to 400 (F).

Roll dough out on well-floured counter or large cutting board. Use cookie cutters to create shaped cookies. (Hint: Dip cookie cutters, rolling pin and spatula in flour often to prevent dough from sticking.)

Sprinkle cookie shapes with colored sugar or sparkles, if desired.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 8 minutes. (Be sure to cool cookie sheets between batches for best results.)

Remove baked cookies immediately from sheets to racks or countertops for cooling. Cookies may be frosted and decorated when cool.

SUPER-SIMPLE SUGAR COOKIES

Here's a cheater's shortcut, for those who find themselves facing a sudden need for home-baked holiday cookies. Ssh! Don't give away the secret!

Ingredients:

1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough (slice-and-bake)
3/4 cup flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 (F).

Mix flour and store-bought cookie dough in a large bowl.

Follow cutting and baking directions, as above.

EASY ICING

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons powdered egg white (optional)
6 tablespoons warm water
Food coloring in various colors

Combine first four ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well with hand- or stand-mixer at medium speed. Increase speed and blend for 3-5 minutes, until mixture is spoon.

Divide icing mixture into smaller bowls, and add food coloring as desired. (Remember art class? You can mix your three primary colors to create additional ones.)

Spoon colored icings into resealable zippered plastic bags. Snip a small corner off each bag.

Squeeze icing from the bags onto the well-cooled cookies in desired designs. Let icing set before arranging cookies on platters or in tins.