Julie's Cut-Out Cookies with Royal Icing

Julie's Cut-Out Cookies

Makes 3-4 dozen cookies.

I received this recipe from my friend, Michelle, when we were splitting up the task of making 8 dozen cookies for a weekly breakfast we do with 9th grade girls. This week, we decorated Valentine's Day cookies for a school downtown that gets its lunches donated each day. Since we only have an hour with the girls before we need to take them to school, Michelle and I baked the cookies ahead of time, leaving the decorating and packaging to be completed with the girls.

This recipe is unlike any other cut-out recipe I have. It creates a fluffier, more cake-like cookie, but holds its shape well. If you are looking for a denser, more buttery cookie, try these: Meme's Butter Cookies.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Sift Together:

3 c. flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

Cream Together:

1 c. butter - room temperature

1-1/2 c. sugar

Blend Into Butter Mixture:

4 large eggs - room temperature

Beat Into Butter Mixture:

2 t. vanilla

2 T. light cream

Add flour in three parts on slow. Divide dough into 4 flat cakes and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. When ready to begin, move dough to freezer for about 20-30 minutes and then roll out 1/4" thick with (A TON OF) flour, and use cookie cutters of your choice. Leave remaining dough in freezer until ready to use. Return dough scraps to freezer if dough warms too much while rolling and cutting.

Butter cookie sheet (if you have a nonstick baking sheet, this is not necessary). Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Optional: Brush cookie dough with egg whites (beaten) and add sprinkles before baking.

A Note From The Little Lady: This dough needs a lot of flour to keep it from sticking when rolling out. Don't be alarmed if you feel you need more flour than normal! If it's sticking to your rolling surface, you need more flour.

Royal Icing:

Combine 3 c. powdered sugar, 2 beaten egg whites, and food coloring in a bowl; mix well. Spoon into Ziploc bags (or, better yet, decorating bags with tips!), snip off a tiny section of one corner and start decorating!

Some of girls working on the cookies and valentines: