Baking Christmas Memories: A Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

6. Chill the Dough: Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilled dough will be easier to handle.

7. Roll and Cut: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.

8. Bake: Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. The baking time may vary, so keep an eye on them.

9. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Decorate (Optional): Once the cookies are completely cooled, you can decorate them with icing, sprinkles, or any other decorations of your choice.

11. Enjoy: Enjoy your delicious homemade sugar cookies!

Feel free to get creative with the shapes and decorations. Happy baking!