Sugar Cookies

Today I made sugar cookies. This recipe is taken from 'The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook'.The recipe for the icing I used for the cookies are also from the same cookbook but I will post that in a separate post. Let's get started with the recipe.

What you will need:

-200 g of room temperature unsalted butter

-280 g caster sugar

-1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

-1 egg

-400 g plain flour
-A pinch of salt
-1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

-Cookie cutters

-Icing of your choice

-2-4 baking trays lined with greaseproof paper

Directions:

1.Preheat the oven to 170 C(325 F) Gas 3

2.Put the butter, sugar and vanilla extract into a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use  a handheld electric whisk) and cream until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix well, scraping any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

3.Add the flour, salt and cream of tartar and mix well, but don't over mix. The dough should be light, soft and easy to handle.

4.Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Cut out shapes with your choice of cookie cutters. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking trays and bake in the preheated ovens for about 10 minutes. Check them regularly to make sure they are not burning. The cookies should be very light golden on the outer edges and paler in the centre. When you are happy that they are cooked through, remove therefrom the oven and leave to cool slightly on the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Decorate with icing.