Can't Wait Cut-Out Cookies

Little J is all about baking these days.  Thanks to Sylvia Chave's Cookie Cutter Song, from her Orange Album, he most often asks to bake cut-out cookies.

It's somewhat anti-climactic to have to wait an hour or two as the dough refrigerates. So, I was excited to find this recipe for cut-out sugar cookies that doesn't require refrigeration! This recipe is adapted from the Wilton Cookie Blossom Sugar Cookies recipe found on Food.com.

Can't Wait Cut-out Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 cups self-rising baking flour (or 3 cups all purpose and 2 tsp. baking powder)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer for two minutes; scrape down bowl.

(After being reminded why we never touch the beaters, my son rotates the bowl while I mix. He also helps scrape the bowl.)

3. Cream the mixture for an additional minute.

4. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. (If little ones are entrusted with egg cracking duties, be sure they wash their hands after handling eggs and before twisting the cap on and off the vanilla extract.)

5. Sift baking powder and all-purpose flour if not using self-rising baking flour.

6. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. The dough will be stiff. (Little J helps add the flour by the half-cup fulls.)

7. Blend in the last of the flour by hand. (At this point, Little J always says the next step is "licking the beaters.") 

8. Roll dough to 1/4" thickness and cut out using cookie cutters. (This is Little J's favourite thing to help with...besides the eating part.)

9. Bake until cookies are lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.

10. Remove cookies to a rack to cool completely.

11. After cookies cool, they are ready for "ice, ice, ice and sprinkles." (Thanks again, Sylvia!)

This is the powdered sugar icing recipe I tried out with these farm-animal cut-outs (purchased at Peevy Mart). The results were delicious! Or, I just use the store-bought stuff to make it quick and easy for Little J and I to decorate Christmas cookies for friends.