Slice and Bake

Yum, so good! Abby and I are going to make some super easy sugar cookies today. These are easy and really good straight from the oven. (We sprinkle colored sugar on the tops before we bake ours.) I had to share the recipe!

Slice-and-Bake Sugar Cookies

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-size mixing bowl.

2. Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and with an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture until just incorporated.

3. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Turn 1 portion onto a piece of waxed paper and shape it, rolling it inside the paper, into a log about 10 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Repeat with the remaining dough. (Dough logs may be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 1 month. Slice and bake directly from the freezer.)

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5. Slice the dough into 1/3-inch-thick rounds, rotating the dough often so it doesn't become flattened as you cut.

6. Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. Bake until they are pale golden around the edges but still soft on top, 13-15 minutes (a minute or two longer for frozen dough).

*If you like, this basic cookie dough can be dressed up with sprinkles or colored sugar for colorful cookies in a flash. You may either sprinkle them on the tops of the cookies after slicing or brush unsliced logs with egg white and roll in sugar before slicing for a border effect.