Rolled Sugar Cookies

KYLAR MOLTZAN

Ican’t say this is any family secret recipe, or even anything that you can’t find in any recipe book or google search.

It’s just a basic sugar cookie recipe. And truthfully, I can’t eat them anymore, because I can’t eat gluten (wheat). So, why did I choose this one to share when my mom asked for my favorite holiday recipe?

I chose this recipe because ever since my youngest sister and brother were big enough to start helping decorate (I’m 10 years older than my sister and 12 years older than my brother), I’ve been making these cookies with them.

It’s a time I look forward to every single year, because for a couple of hours the three of us get to do something together that they are always excited for, and that I have their undivided attention to do. Getting to be the big sister that helps them do “big kid” things is something I treasure, even though they’re really not so little anymore.

I hope it will continue to be something they want to do with me even through their teen years, and maybe after. I don’t look at this recipe as making cookies. For me, and hopefully for them, it’s making memories.

Rolled Sugar Cookies

1 c. white sugar

3/4 c. butter, softened

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2.5 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Beat sugar and butter together using mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover and chill dough for minimum 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Roll out dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely before decorating with icing and sprinkles (that, of course, is the kids’ favorite part!).

Icing: There are so many recipes for amazing icing. We generally keep it simple just using milk and powdered sugar. We don’t use measurements, just keep adding until we get the consistency we want.

Our cookie recipe is adapted from “The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies” by J. Saunders, found at https://www. allrecipes.com/recipe/10402/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/