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moms sugar cookies

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies (McCall's Cookbook)

This is the tried and true one my mom uses every Christmas, she adapted it (see notes) from McCall's cookbook. As is this recipe makes a ridiculous number of cookies, I rolled thin (⅛-¼" thick), and have cutters ranging from 1½ inch diameter to 3 inch diameter, used a good mix of them, and got over 100 cookies. Halve this recipe if you're not doing a cookie exchange or feeding an army. Or make it, and freeze half of the dough.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 100 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 560 g (4 cups) sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 225 g 1 cup soft butter
  • 300 g (1 ½ cups) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

  • ¼ cup sugar optional
  • Raisins or blanched almonds optional

Instructions
 

  • Sift flour with baking powder, soda, salt, and nutmeg; set aside
  • In large bowl of electric mixer, at medium speed, beat butter, sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy.
  • At low speed, beat in vanilla until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well combined.
  • Form dough into a ball. (I usually make 2). Wrap in waxed paper or foil or cling wrap; refrigerate several hours or overnight.
  • Divide dough into 4 parts. Refrigerate until ready to roll out.
  • Preheat oven to 375F/ 190C/ Fan 170C. Lightly grease cookie sheets (or use parchment paper)
  • On well-floured surface roll dough, one part at a time, ¼ inch thick, for shapes that do well with a bit of puffiness (flowers, Simple shapes, circles) for more defined edges, roll nearly ⅛ inch thick).
  • With floured cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Using spatula place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. (does not have to be that far apart).
  • Sprinkle tops of cookies with sugar.
  • Bake 10 to 12 minutes for ¼ inch thick 8-9 minutes Ive you've rolled closer to half that, or until golden. Remove to wire rack; cool.

Notes

Mom's notes:
One batch makes 4 dozen, but it all depends on the size of the cookie cutter and the thickness of the rolled-out dough. When I make a half batch, I get about 3 dozen cookies.
The original recipe calls for 1 egg and ½ cup sour cream.
Mine:
I swapped 1½ tsp cardamom for the nutmeg out of Christmas season, other flavourings could easily be substituted - cinnamon, citrus zest?
I got a little bit of spread here, things to try (in this order)
- longer creaming time
- fridge cold eggs
- more flour
Keyword cookies, holiday, roll cookies, sugar cookies