Sugar Cookies & Frosting

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a 1 quart large mouth jar, layer the sugar on the bottom and the flour mixture on top. Attach a tag with the following instructions:

2. Empty the contents of the jar into a large bowl. Cut in 1 cup of softened butter until the mixture is crumbly. In a separate bowl, beat 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract until light and fluffy. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Cover bowl and chill for 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.

4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. You can decorate them with sugar before baking of frost after baking.

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Sugar Cookie Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 3 drops red food coloring
• 1 (2.25 ounce) jar red decorator sugar

Directions

1. Combine confectioners’ sugar butter, vanilla and milk, beating until creamy. Thin with a few more drops of milk (if necessary) to reach desired spreading consistency. Stir in optional food coloring. Spread frosting over cooled cookies and decorate with colored sugar, if desired.