world's best sugar cookies

and i really mean it.

i've been making sugar cookies for years, and never have a i found a better, more perfect, more complimented recipe for rolled sugar cookies. so, i wanted to share :)

ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter (softened)

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

directions

in large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.

beat in eggs and vanilla.

stir in flour, baking powder and salt.

break dough into 2 balls, flatted and cover with saran wrap.

chill dough for 1-2 hours.

preheat oven to 400 degrees.

roll out dough on floured surface to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inches thick.

use the cutest cookie cutters you can find.

place cookies about 1 inch a part on an ungreased cookie sheet.

bake 6-8 minutes.

transfer to wire rack immediately to cool.

wait until completely cooled to decorate.

i use the icing recipe on the back of the powered sugar bag. you'll need two bags. it's amazing how fast you can run through this stuff. espeically when you start using food coloring to make different colors. :)

my baking tips

plan ahead...

*wear a cute apron

*don't be crunched for time

*put your butter out to soften

*use seasonally appropriate cookie cutters to make it fun

*always do a double batch (you might as well! it's basically the same amount of work, just double the goodies)

*really chill the dough as long as you're supposed to

*break your cookie making into 3 distinct parts (and at different times so you don't lose steam) 1. making the dough, 2. baking the cookies, 3. decorating the cookies. (i find that if i try to do all of this in one time block, my work gets sloppy.)

*invite friends over to help you decorate! (it's SO much more fun!) :)