If these aren’t the cutest cut-out sugar cookies you’ve ever seen, you either play with puppies and kittens all day and are on cuteness overload, or you’re not from Texas. Only one of those excuses is forgivable, by the way.
I scaled down sweet Bridget’s recipe, and not only is her recipe easy (yes, roll out cookies are easy!), they are delicious. Every baker I know uses her recipes when they want perfect cookies every time. I quartered her full size recipe in order to make 1 dozen cookies.
Feel free to use this dough for festive holiday cookie cutters; I won’t mind a bit. But, since I’m going home to Texas for Christmas, these feel festive to me.
| 1 Dozen Cut-Out Sugar Cookies |
Makes 1 dozen.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup flour, plus extra for rolling
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- For the icing:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 teaspoons milk
- a few drops of vanilla
- a few drops of red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a medium bowl, beat together with an electric mixer the butter and sugar. Once light and fluffy, add the egg yolk and extracts. Once well incorporated, sprinkle over half the flour mixture and beat gently until combined, then sprinkle over the rest. Beat until no streaks of flour remain, but be careful not to over-mix.
- Dust a clean counter top with flour, and dump the dough out onto it. Gather it into a ball and press it into a 2″ thick round disk. Flour your rolling pin, then roll out the dough out big enough to cut out about 8 shapes. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Gather the dough scraps and re-roll to cut out 4 more shapes and place them on the cookie sheet.
- Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until the edges of the cookies just start to turn brown. Let them sit on the sheet a few minutes before moving them a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, make the icing by whisking together all ingredients. Start with 3 teaspoon milk, and add more to achieve a slightly runny consistency. Ice your cookies by outlining the shape using a squeeze bottle or small piping bag with a tip, then flood the icing within the borders to fill it in. To make the little hearts, scoop a small amount of the frosting into a separate bowl and add red food coloring until you get the desired color. Use a toothpick to make heart shapes.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
I love that you quartered her recipe and got 1 dozen cookies. Seriously, I never want more than a dozen anything either…by that time, I’m ready to move..on. A new flavor, item, combo, etc.
Your cookies are so cute!
Kimmie says
CUTE! As a displaced Texan, I so love these cookies. =)
Krissy's Creations says
So cute! I love Bridget’s recipe – Simply the best :). How fun that your going back to Texas for Christmas :)!
Kathryn says
I love that you have a Texas cookie cutter!
Lynda Agen says
Cookies look great – thanks! will be trying them soon.
Glad to hear you’re going home for Christmas, let family comfort you and remember you have many who care about You.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
These are fantastic! What a great way to share your love of Texas:-)
Bev Weidner says
Is the heart on Austin!?
Julie @ Table for Two says
This is AWESOME!!! I totally want a Virginia or DC one. I love that you put a heart on a city — I don’t know which though :( I know, I suck. So cute, love love it!! Good job :)
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
these are so cute…i don’t normally do the cut-out thing, but i DO have a Texas cookie cutter that needs some lovin’ ;)
Jay says
wow…sounds scrumptiously tasty..
just found your space…awesome space you have..
love yur presentation..
Am your happy follower now..:)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray says
Adorable!
Roxana GreenGirl {A little bit of everything} says
So cute and Christmas-y!
Enjoy your holidays with your family and friends in Texas! Merry Christmas!
Maria says
Too cute! Merry Christmas!
Cookbook Queen says
I adore these!! Seriously cute.
And I’ve tasted Bridget’s cookie recipe and I can say that they are delicious!!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
The heart on Austin (at least I assume that’s what it’s on) is the cutest thing about these. I wonder if they make NY state cutouts? ;)
Lauren says
YES! That is my go-to cookie recipe! It’s so amazing! And, I love that this batch only makes 12! Perfect for my little family! Do you have a cookbook deal yet?
Baker Street says
Adorable! Happy Holidays! xx
Cassie says
That has to be the cutest cookie cutter ever. I love the little dot that you added. Merry Christmas, Christina!
Christine (The Raw Project) says
Totally cute cookies, very festive. :-) Hopeyou enjoy Texas and seeing your family.
Vicki Bensinger says
They are darling. I hope you have a safe trip home ands wonderful time visiting family and friends.
Happy Holidays!
bridget {bake at 350} says
So, so cute!!! You KNOW I love that Texas!!!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Cutie, cute, cute! I love the little heart. And I have to say I love the little wooden bowl, my Dad makes bowls like that.
Have a wonderful trip home for Christmas!!
Joanne says
Last year all my brother asked for for Christmas was sugar cookies and these were the ones I made…and yes he was SO pleased! I think he ate half the batch on christmas and then hid them from my family and rationed them out for the next week lol.
These are super cute. I actually have a texas cookie cutter…perhaps I’ll make him texas-shaped cookies this year!
Happy holidays love!
Hannah says
I’m not from Texas and I still think those cookies are adorable! I wish I had a Connecticut-shaped cookie cutter now. :)
natalie (the sweets life) says
these are darling! almost too pretty to eat! (almost ;))
Tina @ mylifeasamrs says
These are too cute!!!! Love them!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) says
I couldn’t figure out what the cookie cutter shape was until I read the comments – LOL!
Prathiba says
How cute! I want that Texas cookie cutter! Are you from Austin? That’s where I am for the holidays. These cookies are perfect. :)
Happy Holidays!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Cute cookies ;) Happy Holidays, sweetie….
Asmita says
Adorable cookies. Merry Christmas and happy new year!
Amy says
whoa. How thick?
:)
Sippitysup says
“Deep in the Heart”, may I say Merry Christmas? GREG
Beth says
These cookies are so good along with the frosting! I made these Christmas eve, now I’ll make them frequently.
Tabitha says
Oh my, new follower, love these, can’t wait to read more, and try these out!
Thank you
Tabitha
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
I came across the lil’ blog by accident…but I’m so glad that I did. I am newly single and these servings for two are perfect…one serving now, and one for leftovers! Lovely!
Nicole says
Adorable bomb!
Jayna says
Had a craving for sugar cookies and found this recipe – the perfect size! Substituted out the almond extract and substituted for milk instead. The cookies were still a bit too dry so had to add a splash of milk so a dough would form. Baked up in 8 minutes – delicious! Thanks!
Diane {Created by Diane} says
CUTE!!!
DW says
OMG so gooooooooood!
Sanjana says
My cookies are in the oven right now, and they look and smell amazing! This is my first time using almond extract (since I bake cookies primarily for my little sister) and I think this is the recipe I will be using from now on. Thank you!
Maureen says
I am using this recipe to make ‘Teddy Bear’ cookies, as I am going to a play date with my four year old Grandaughter – we are having an indoor ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ (indoor as in UK it is the middle of winter).
This recipe is so nice as it is a small amount.
I will Ice and decorate the teddies – and I will try to give the ‘Teddies’ hearts also.
after all every Teddy has to have a heart :-)
Thank you for this recipe
Jadyn says
Wow! Love your cookies. How adorable! And the Texas cookie cutter, what a awesome way to spice up your cookies by style. And FYI, I made these cookies, added cinnamon to the batter, made it into a brownie-ish doe, and drizzled caramel ontop! What a great recipe
Mariel Button says
This is a great recipe for when I want to design a cookie for a display, makes a small batch.
Although, I would suggest. Beating the egg and then measuring out about 2 table spoons instead of just the yolk. Makes a fluffier cookie!
I added a tablespoon of pumpkin spice and it made an amazing flavor!
SERLINA GARBALDI says
these turned out like butter cookies. they didnt live up to my expectations. the cookies didnt spread and it was tasteless. THESE WERE AWFUL.
SERLINA GARBALDI says
so im guessing all bad comments get deleted. CHEATAS. no wonder i chose this horrible recipe.
Debora Herman says
Serlina….Christina’s cookies are always spot on, delicious and amazing…could it be that something went wrong in your measuring or omission of something…I would try again…
Christina Lane says
Hey Serlina,
Calm it down over there. Cut-out sugar cookies are butter cookies. And they’re actually not supposed to spread so that they maintain the shape of the cookie cutter. I think you were looking for an entirely different recipe.
And I’m no cheater.
Sarah Nolan says
I love this recipe it is so easy and fun to do
Ara says
I made these to eat just plain without icing, and the cookies taste delicious! First time i made them and they turned out super good.