So, I did some testing, ultimately baked (and ate) too many cookies, and discovered that sugar cookies are all about simple ingredients, time spent with family, and sharing love through tasty homemade treats. meringue powder, you don’t need it here. And these cookies? Well, these: – Hold their shape while baking. In other words, no mystery-looking snowflakes or Christmas trees. – Make a lot of dough and is easily doubled. – Freeze well. – Actually tastes really good!
Mix the dough. Like all cookie recipes, you need to make the cookie dough. Start by creaming together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the eggs until just combined. Then add the vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Roll the dough. Yes, roll your prepared dough before chilling. The best way to do this is between two sheets of parchment paper. In fact, I may even go so far and say this is the only way to roll out sugar cookie dough. Place dough between two pieces of parchment paper, leaving enough excess parchment paper on both sides, and roll it out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Chill the rolled dough. NOW is when you will refrigerate your cookie dough. The best way to do this is to roll out a few slabs of cookie dough, each between their own sheets of parchment paper and carefully stack one on top of the other. Then wrap in plastic wrap. Transfer the stacked slabs of dough to the refrigerator and chill.
Cut out the cookies. When ready to cut out your cookies, remove a slab of pre-rolled and chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator. Transfer to a flat surface. Flour your cookie cutter, cut out your desired shapes and leave the shapes on the paper! Simply peel away the extra dough.
Bake. Preheat oven. Transfer cookies to preheated oven and bake for 6-8 minutes or until the edges are just turning golden (not brown!) Remove from the oven and carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.