Best Martha Stewarts Sugar Cookies Recipes

MARTHA STEWART'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt; mix on medium-high speed until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour in two batches, mixing until just incorporated.
• Turn out the dough onto a clean work surface. Divide it in half, and pat into flattened rectangles; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
• Preheat oven to 350°F., with rack in upper and lower thirds. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one rectangle of dough to a scant ¼-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Using a small offset spatula, transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheets, placing about 2 inches apart. Chill in the freezer or refrigerator until firm, about 15 minutes. Set the scraps aside. Repeat the process with the remaining rectangle of dough. Gather all the scraps, and roll out again. Chill 15 minutes; cut out more shapes, and place on sheets.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until the cookies are golden around the edges and slightly firm to the touch, about 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the sugar, meringue powder, and a scant 1/2 cup water on low speed. Beat until the mixture is fluffy yet dense, 7 to 8 minutes.
• To thin the icing for flooding (filling in areas with a thin layer of icing), stir in additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Test the consistency by lifting a spoonful of icing and letting it drip back into the bowl; a ribbon should remain on the surface for 5 to 7 seconds.
• To tint the icing, dip a toothpick or wooden skewer into food coloring, and gradually mix it in until the desired shade is reached. Use a piping bag with a fine tip to pipe the royal icing around the outside edge of each sugar cookie. Then you can use a small spoon to spoon the icing onto the cookies and spread it to the edges. Let the royal icing dry completely before storing- it may take a few hours to harden completely.

SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Turn out dough, and divide in half. Flatten each half into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Let one disk of dough stand at room temperature just until soft enough to roll, about 10 minutes. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to just under 1/4-inch thick, adding more flour as needed to keep dough from sticking. Chill in refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes. Cut out cookies using desired cutters or templates. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets as you work. Roll out scraps, and repeat once. Repeat with remaining disk of dough. Chill cookies in freezer until very firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake cookies, switching positions of sheets and rotating halfway through, until edges turn golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Decorate with Royal Icing.

BASIC SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic; freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes, or place in a resealable plastic bag, and freeze up to 3 months (thaw in refrigerator overnight).
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove one dough disk; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out 1/8 inch thick between two sheets of floured parchment, dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. (If dough gets soft, chill 10 minutes.) Reroll scraps; cut shapes. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Cool completely on wire racks. To ice cookies, spread with the back of a spoon. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes. Decorate as desired.
• For the icing, sift confectioners' sugar into a small bowl. Whisk in milk, water, or lemon juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If too thin, whisk in more sugar; if too thick, add more liquid. Spread over cookies with back of a spoon. Add other decorations, if desired. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes.

MARTHA STEWART'S COWBOY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheets with cooking spray, line with parchment, and spray parchment.
• Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder into medium bowl.
• Beat butter and sugars with mixer on medium-high until creamy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and mix in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture. Beat until just incorporated. Beat in oats, chocolate, pecans and coconut. (Dough may be refrigerated up to 3 days).
• Drop dough onto baking sheets 3" apart. A 1 1/2" cookie scoop works well.
• Bake until edges of cookies begin to brown, 11-13 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire rack and cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks. Cool.

MARTHA STEWART'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sift flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture, and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and roll with rolling pin so plastic is tight and dough is even. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Have ready several baking sheets lined with parchment. Remove dough from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature to temper slightly. (This prevents the dough from cracking.) Place parchment on a clean surface; dust generously with flour.
• Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thickness, stopping often to release the dough by running an offset spatulat under it. Dust with flour as necessary to prevent dough from sticking. Transfer parchment and dough to freezer until very firm, about 15 minutes.
• Remove dough from freezer; working quickly, cut into desired shapes. If your dough begins to soften, return to freezer for a few minutes. Using a wide spatula, transfer to baking sheets; freeze or refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until edges just begin to brown, rotating halfway through. Cool on wire racks; decorate.