The Ultimate Cutout Cookie Recipe: Festive Fun for Everyone!
This holiday season, ditch the store-bought cookies and dive into the joy of baking your own! This recipe for cutout cookies is easy to follow, produces deliciously soft cookies, and provides a fantastic opportunity for creative decorating. Get ready to unleash your inner artist and create festive masterpieces that will impress family and friends.
Ingredients for Perfectly Soft Cutout Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (not melted – this is key for texture!)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cookie Perfection:
Step 1: Cream Together the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This is best done with an electric mixer, but you can achieve similar results with a good amount of elbow grease!
Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well combined before moving on.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.
Step 4: Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don't overmix! Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
This is a crucial step for cutout cookies. Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, resulting in cookies that hold their shape better. Chilling for longer (up to 2 hours) is even better!
Step 6: Roll Out the Dough
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use a rolling pin to ensure even thickness.
Step 7: Cut Out the Cookies
Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes from the dough. Reroll scraps to minimize waste.
Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection
Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Step 9: Cool and Decorate!
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, unleash your creativity and decorate them with frosting, sprinkles, candies – whatever your heart desires!
Tips for Extra-Special Cutout Cookies:
- Use high-quality butter: This makes a noticeable difference in flavor and texture.
- Don't overbake: Overbaked cookies will be dry and crumbly.
- Get creative with decorating: Use different colors, textures, and designs to make your cookies truly unique.
- Make it a family affair: Baking cutout cookies is a wonderful activity to share with loved ones.
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