Basic Sugar Cut out Cookies

Funkydelia's Note:

I have been looking for a basic recipe that I can adapt to suit whatever kind of cookies we feel like making. My son has developed a real passion for baking so we take shortcuts like creaming butter and sugar in the food processor (he's two years old and its easier for him to press the button than to wield the wooden spoon!)

• Total Time: 26 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 6 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 20

Yield: 20.0 cookies ...

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3 cups plain flour

spices

• chocolate chips (optional) or ground ginger, etc (optional)

Directions:

1. Cream together sugar and butter (can use all butter or half and half like I do).
2. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. If using spices add them at this point, I like a combination of 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp of cinnamon and half a tsp of allspice. but have also made them using a cup of chocolate chips.
4. Add in the flour a cup at a time (if you are finding it a little dry add a tsp or so of water).
5. Roll out between two sheets of baking paper (thanks wife2abadge for this tip!) and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. I roll out about half a centimetre thick (I'm in Europe and don't do inches, sorry!) when cutting out and put on an ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake at 400 for about 6-10 minutes, the time taken depends on the size of cutters you have used.
8. Cool for a minute on the cookie sheet then transfer to a wire rack before decorating.
9. (This is just a personal note for me! 1 cup butter = 225g).

Reviews

[Studentchef]

This was a really great cookie recipe! I enjoyed it, and used my Halloween cookie cutters that I go from my swap. It was kind of fun using them, even though Halloween passed, but they made for really great cut out cookies.

[Chef Dissa Debba]

These were great cookies! I love that you don't have to factor in a chill time..they're just ready to roll and cut. The slightest change I would make is add a pinch of salt. Other than that, held up very good and were very tasty!

[tinctoria]

I was looking for a simple recipe for my daughter to try out her cookie cutters. This was perfect!