Powdered Sugar Cookies

There was a food event many years ago in which chefs prepared food for guests to try. The recipes were compiled into a booklet so people could make them at home. One of the recipes was for Powdered Sugar Cookies. 

I tried this recipe last week and entered the cookies in the county fair under the "Light Drop Cookie" category. It won second place which I'm totally fine with. There are only six ribbons awarded in each category. So, if there are more than six entries, only the top six get awards...the rest don't receive a ribbon.

This is the recipe for the Powdered Sugar Cookies:

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Blend into the creamed mixture. Cover and chill for at least two hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Divide the dough into two parts. On a lightly-floured surface, roll each piece of the dough out to 3/16 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets (I used parchment paper instead). Sprinkled with granulated sugar (I used turbinado sugar) or leave plain for decorating after baking.

Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. 

If desired, decorate with royal icing and holiday decorations. 

Royal Icing

Ingredients

1 egg white (or powdered meringue equivalent)

Powdered sugar, sifted

Lemon juice

Directions

Place egg white in a bowl. Stir in as much powdered sugar as it takes to make a thick icing. Stir in a couple of drops of lemon juice. Use immediately. Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.