Christmas Sugar Cookies

by Lena
(Maryland, USA)

Sugar cookies make the best Christmas cookies. Try this easy recipe.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups (230 grams)all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cups granulated white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

In the bowl of your electric (or hand) mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined.Add the flour mixer and beat until you have a smooth dough.

Divide the dough in half and wrap.Refrigerate for about one hour or until firm enough to roll.

Preheat oven to 350F (180C) degrees and place rack in center of the oven.Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Remove one half of chilled dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Keep turning the dough while you roll.

Cut out cookies using a lightly floured cookie cutter and transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet. Place the baking sheets with unbaked cookies in the refrigerator from 10-15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape while baking.

Bake cookies for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool. Store in an airtight container. Don't forget to decorate your cookies!