How to Make Sugar Cookies From Scratch

On my list of the best things in the world is the smell of baking cookies or cake. This is not to say that the warm fresh results from the oven are any less fantastic, for they too deserve a place on the list. I believe I can safely presume that if you are reading an article on sugar cookies, you are at the start of your culinary journey. However, like I said earlier, making sugar cookies is a fairly easy task, and these instructions will guide you through the process. The right tools and gadgets (such as an electric mixer) speeds up the process to great extent. Once you get a hang of making them, you can improvise, with shape, taste and toppings. For now, you can still have a blast decorating this batch.

Making Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp milk
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Directions

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl and sift them twice. Place the butter in the large bowl of the electric stand mixer and beat until light. While doing this, gradually add in the sugar at intervals. Next, add the eggs and milk and continue to beat. Set the mixer on low speed, and add spoonfuls of flour mixture. Continue to whisk until the batter no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Split the dough into equal halves and wrap them in waxed paper. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease your baking sheet with butter. Sprinkle powdered sugar onto a clean, dry, and flat surface, which you will use to roll out the dough on. Take one of the wrapped packs of dough from refrigerator, and shape it into a ball. Then sprinkle some powdered sugar on the rolling pin, and using light pressure, roll out dough to ¼'' thick pancake. While doing this, keep moving/rotating the dough to ensure that it is not sticking. If the dough has become slightly warm during rolling, place it on the cold cookie sheet for about 10 minutes, in which time it should cool down.

Cut the dough into desired shapes. If you are using a cookie cutter, first dip it in flour. Position your cookies on a greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat with about an inch of space between each. Bake the cookies for until they begin to turn brown around the edges, for approximately 7 to 9 minutes. However, remember to rotate the cookie sheet after about 3 or 4 minutes of baking. Once done, remove from oven and allow the cookies to sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes or so. Subsequently, move to wire rack for complete cooling. You can store them in an airtight container for about 1 week.

Once your cookies are ready, you can make some icing in a few different colors. You can coat your cookies with one color, and decorate with the other. With a little creativity and a few pictures to get you started, there is much you can do. Once you get a hang of making them, you can start gifting them.