PERFECT SUGAR COOKIES
Classic sugar cookies take baking back to basics. But in their simplicity lies their perfection: It's hard to beat the delicate flavor of cookies with only the most elemental of ingredients. We veered from tradition a little by adding sour cream for softness and candied citrus for zest. This recipe appears in our cookbook "Martha Stewart's Cookie Perfection" (Clarkson Potter).
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes 10
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Sugar Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat well to combine.
- Reduce speed to low and add half of flour mixture, followed by sour cream, then remaining flour mixture; beat just until smooth. (Dough will be stiff; you may need to finish mixing it with a wooden spoon.)
- Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop dough (about 3 tablespoons at a time) and drop on parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 3 to 4 inches apart.
- Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies are just firm and tops are barely beginning to brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely, then top with sanding sugar or lemon glaze and candied zest (below).
- Lemon Glaze: In a large bowl, whisk together egg white, sugar, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice until smooth. (If necessary, at up to 1 teaspoon more lemon juice to reach desired consistency. Glaze should be opaque but not so thin as to run down the edges of a cookie when dipped. If glaze runs, add more sugar; if too thick, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Use immediately. Makes: About 1/2 cup
- Candied Citrus: With a sharp paring knife, slice the ends off citrus. Following curve of fruit, cut away outermost peel, leaving most of white pith on. Slice peel lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
- In a pot of boiling water, cook peel until tender, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; spread in a single layer and let dry slightly, about 15 minutes.
- In a saucepan, bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add peel and boil until translucent and syrup thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer peel to rack, separating as needed. Let cool 1 hour. Toss with remaining 1/2 cup sugar to coat. Use immediately.
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Ske
[email protected]These cookies are a classic for a reason. They're simple, delicious, and always a hit.
Damilare Charles
[email protected]These cookies are a bit time-consuming to make, but they're worth it. They're so delicious and perfect for any occasion.
Danielle Ridley
[email protected]I love how versatile these cookies are. I've made them with different extracts and sprinkles, and they're always delicious.
Antor Raj
[email protected]These cookies are the perfect holiday treat. They're so festive and delicious.
Crystol Shimko
[email protected]These cookies were amazing! I made them for a party and they were a huge hit. Everyone loved them.
Ben Kelly (Spares0mechange)
[email protected]These cookies were a bit dry for my taste. I think I'll add a little more butter next time.
Jerome Van Oss
[email protected]I had a hard time getting the cookies to spread out in the oven. They ended up being more like thick cookies than thin and crispy cookies.
Jagath Jayawardene 3000
[email protected]These cookies were a bit too sweet for my taste, but they were still good.
Brynn Roote
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of sugar cookies, but these were really good. They were soft and chewy, and the frosting was the perfect sweetness.
Michael Meadors
[email protected]These cookies are so delicious! The flavor is amazing, and they're the perfect texture.
Namik gjurra
[email protected]I love how easy these cookies are to make. I can whip up a batch in no time, and they always turn out perfectly.
shelli miller
[email protected]These sugar cookies are the best I've ever had! They're so soft and chewy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. I've made them several times now, and they're always a hit with my family and friends.