Best Sugar Cookies For Decorating : Lindakendall

The Best Sugar Cookies for Decorating

Sugar cookies are a classic canvas for decorators, and with the right recipe, you can create beautiful and delicious works of art. The key to the perfect sugar cookie is finding a recipe that results in a dough that is firm enough to hold its shape while piping or cutting, but not so firm that it becomes tough. It should also be sweet enough to balance the richness of frosting, but not so sweet that it overpowers the other flavors.

After testing many different recipes, I have found that the following recipe produces the best sugar cookies for decorating. It's a simple recipe with just a few ingredients, and the dough is easy to work with and holds its shape well.

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut out cookies using your favorite cutters and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack before decorating.

Tips

For a crispier cookie, bake for a few minutes longer.
For a softer cookie, bake for a few minutes less.
If you don't have time to refrigerate the dough, you can proceed with cutting and baking immediately. However, the cookies may spread more than desired.
These cookies can be decorated with royal icing, buttercream, or any other type of frosting you like.

Variations

Add 1/2 cup of sprinkles to the dough for a fun and festive touch.
Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the dough for chocolate sugar cookies.
Add 1/4 cup of chopped nuts to the dough for a nutty flavor.
Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough for a warm and spicy flavor.

With these simple tips and variations, you can create beautiful and delicious sugar cookies that are perfect for any occasion. So get creative and have fun!