Festive Drop Sugar Cookies Food

DROP SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350.
• Sift together flour, salt and baking soda.
• Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
• Beat in vanilla and egg.
• Add flour mixture and beat until smooth.
• Blend in milk.
• Drop by teaspoon about 3 inches apart onto greased baking sheets.
• Flatten with bottom of glass that has been dipped in sugar (I do this twice).
• Bake in 350-degree oven about 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on rack.

SMASHED SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat the granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and eggs, then continue to mix until incorporated (it's ok if the mixture looks slightly curdled). Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl until evenly combined. Reduce the mixer to medium low, then slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
• Divide the dough into 18 portions (about 2 1/2 tablespoons each), then roll between the palms of your hands into uniform balls; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pour the sprinkles into a shallow bowl or baking dish. Roll the dough balls in the sprinkles until completely coated, then return to the baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm and chilled through, about 1 hour.
• Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line one additional baking sheet with parchment.
• Place 9 chilled dough balls on each prepared baking sheet. Using a 1/3-cup measuring cup, smash the dough balls down until the edges are starting to crack and they are 3 to 3 1/2 inches wide (leave about 1/2 inch of space between each smashed cookie). If the dough starts to stick to the bottom of the measuring cup, dust with a little flour and continue smashing.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until the cookies puff slightly, the centers are still soft and the bottoms are just golden brown, 14 to 17 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once the cookies have cooled, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth and combined (it should be thick but pourable). Transfer to a small piping bag or resealable bag, snip the tip and drizzle over the cookies. Alternatively, use a spoon to drizzle over the cookies. Return to the wire rack to set completely, about 30 minutes. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

FESTIVE DROP SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Grease several baking sheets.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer in a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in egg, vanilla and almond extracts.
• Add the flour mixture and beat until smooth; blend in milk.
• Drop by teaspoonful- about 3 inches apart- onto baking sheets.
• Flatten with bottom of a glass that has been dipped in colored sugar crystals.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
• Cool on racks.