AUNT ESTHER'S SUGAR COOKIES RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk the dry ingredients together, and set aside. With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together 3 to 4 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and mix for about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time Add the vegetable oil and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients, a bit at a time, just until combined. Don't over-mix. For best results, line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or a Silpat). NOTE: The dough will be soft, so a cookie scoop makes the task a lot easier. Otherwise, chill the dough for at least 15 minutes, if you don't have a cookie scoop. I like to use a 2-inch cookie scoop to measure 12 cookies per sheet, spaced about 2" apart. With the flat of your palm (I lightly moistened my hands with water so the dough doesn't stick), gently press the cookie down just enough to flatten it out to be even. Sprinkle sugar on top. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through. The cookies should be slightly brown around the edges. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack. Once the cookies are completely cool, they will be crunchy, with a tender texture on the inside. Yield: 3 dozen cookies. If you make 1-inch cookies, you should have 5 to 6 dozen.