Sugar Cookie Sparkles

Introduce

Chef :

Christina

Sugar Cookie Sparkles

These are a super simple drop sugar cookie that can easily be customized for whatever holiday. I used red and green sanding sugar to make these festive Christmas cookies. Recipe adapted from : Sally's Cookie Addiction Cookbook.

Ingredient

3 cups

all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp.

baking powder

1/2 tsp.

salt

1 cup

unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

2 oz.

block style cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup

granulated sugar

large egg, at room temperature

2 tsp.

vanilla extract

1/2 tsp.

almond extract

3/4 cup

sanding sugar, any color you'd like

Cooking instructions

* Step 1

In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or using a hand mixer beat the butter and cream cheese together on med-high speed until combined and smooth. Beat in the sugar until creamy, a minute or two. Then beat in the egg, vanilla extract and almond extract.

* Step 2

On low speed, slowly add the flour, baking powder and salt. Beat together until it's all combined and the dough comes together. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour (and up to 4 days). If chilling for longer than 3 hours, let the dough sit out for 30 or so minutes to make it easier to work with.

* Step 3

Towards the end of chill time, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a few large baking trays with either parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Place the sanding sugar into small bowls.

* Step 4

Once the dough is done chilling, roll the dough into balls and roll the balls in the sanding sugar to coat them completely. Place the coated balls onto the baking trays about 1/2 an inch apart from the others (they really won't spread too much). Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to gently press each ball down a bit.

* Step 5

Bake for 11-13 minutes, until very lightly browned around the bottom. Let them cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.