Best Paula Deens Iced Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipes

VANILLA SUGAR COOKIE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
• Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Beat until the dough just comes together, being careful not to over mix.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Place the ball of dough between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out to 1/4 inch think. Keeping the dough in the parchment, transfer to a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
• Cut out the cookies in the desired shapes and places on a half-sheet pan lined with parchment paper or an ungreased nonstick cookie sheet, at least 1 inch apart. Transfer to the freezer and chill for at least 15 minutes or until they are stiff.
• Bake until the cookies are light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Let cookies cool completely on the sheets before decorating. (They will still be soft when they come out of the oven and may break or become misshapen if they are moved off the sheets before cool.) Makes about 12 3-inch cookies.

MONOGRAMMED SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream together 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar and butter, then mix in the egg and vanilla and almond extracts. In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; mix the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, then cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
• Divide the chilled dough in half and roll it out on a lightly floured pastry cloth to a 1/4-inch thickness. Lightly grease some baking sheets. Cut the dough with a floured cookie cutter; sprinkle with sugar. Transfer the cookies to the prepared sheets and bake for 9 minutes.
• Royal Icing:
• In a medium bowl, combine egg whites, 1 box confectioner's sugar, and cream of tartar. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer until blended. Increase mixer speed to high, and beat 8 to 10 minutes, or until mixture holds a peak. Cover with a damp cloth when not in use. Separate into bowls and add food coloring, if desired.

PAULA DEEN'S CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat butter until soft and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beat well. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.
• Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, mix well. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets.
• Divide dough in half, roll 1 portion on a well floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place on sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar, if desired. Repeat with 2nd portion.
• Bake for 10 minutes, cool 2 minutes on sheets, then move to wire racks. When completely cooled, decorate with icing.
• For the icing, whisk together all the ingredients, add food coloring as desired. Makes 3/4 cup.