Need Tasty cut out cookie recipe

[puffkin]

I would like to make cutouts this weekend for Christmas. Many cutouts I have eaten are very dry and tasteless. I hate the prepackaged cutout dough, yuck! My mom has a very good cut out recipe that turn out delicious, but the cookies are too soft and springy (if that makes sense) to decorate nicely....ie the cookies are delicious but don't "present" well.

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe? I am dying to use my mickey cookie cutters and make some really great cookies for Santa!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Here's the one we love...
1C Butter (softened) NOT MARGARINE
1 1/2 C Powdered Sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t cream of tartar

Blend ingedients in order. Chill for at least 2 hours before rolling out. Bake at 375 on lightly greased cookie sheet for 8 minutes (give or take a minute or 2, depending on your doneness preference).

Hope this helps. Theyare yummy and keep their shape pretty well.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I'm going to try your recipe, too. I've never really found one I quite liked.

Puffkin - Try your mom's recipe with all butter (I'm betting it has margarine or shortning in it). Butter produced a crunchy hard cookie, while shortening or margarine gives a much softer one. It has to do with the different components in dairy fats vs. vegetable oils. That's what makes a chewy chocolate chip cookie over the really crisp ones.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Hope you enjoy them!

 

[puffkin]

Mickeymomofthree- THanks for the recipe. I will try it!

Yellowmickeyponchos- Thanks for the tip. I will try that as well!

 

[rt2dz]

My cookies are generally very well received, if you want another option. It’s not anything special, but it works well.

This is the recipe I use:
2 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
6 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Mix baking powder and flour, adding one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. The dough will be very stiff; if it becomes too stiff add water, a tsp at a time. DO NOT CHILL. Do not roll too thin, about 1/8th of an inch or so. Bake cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet on top rack for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned at 400. Light aluminum pans make a better cookie. Makes about 3 dozen, depending on size of cookie cutters.

 

[cerberus]

Here is the recipe we have done since I was a little girl

Mary's Sugar Cookies (makes 5 dozen 2 - 2 1/2 inch cookies)
1 1/2 cup conf sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tarter

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in egg and flavorings. Sift flour. Blend in dry ingredients then mix in.

Divide the dough into two parts and refrigerate 2 - 3 hours or longer is fine

On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of the dough out to 3/16 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.

Heat oven to 375, place cookies on greased cookie sheet and bake 7-8 minutes


Creamy icing
1 lb conf sugar
3/4 cup plus 2TBSP shortening
2 TBSP butter
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond
5 TBP of milk

**Mix by hand, add your favorite colors