Winter

My Dad's Sugar Cookies

These are the cut out cookies that only my Dad had the patience to make with us when we were little, according to my Mom. The first Christmas we lived in Moscow in 1979, she was heavily pregnant with my youngest sister, and she remembers a particularly impressive batch that my Dad made with me. I still make a batch each Christmas for their perfect crunch and more than a little nostalgia.

Ingredients

Recipe serves:

1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar

1 cup (226g) butter, at room temperature

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

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Instructions

In a medium bowl mix together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg and the extracts and stir well. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Preheat your oven to 275F/180C degrees and line two sheet trays with parchment paper. Divide the dough in half and roll out on a lightly floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out into your desired shape and place them on the prepared sheet trays.

Bake for 7-8 minutes, until just golden around the edges. Allow to cool completely before decorating.