Deluxe Sugar Cookies

My mother-in-law makes these yummy sugar cookies every year for Christmas and Valentine's Day. When we were invited to a Super Bowl party over the weekend, I asked her for the recipe so that I could make them both for the party and for Valentine's Day. I could only find a football-shaped cookie cutter in a pack of four cookie cutters (one football, three other designs). I knew I wouldn't use the other three, so I bought a round cookie cutter instead and bent it into the shape I wanted. Once I made the glaze, I divided it into three bowls - some I left white, some I dyed brown for the footballs, and some I dyed pink for hearts. They turned out good, but a little harder than I'm used to, so you may want to adjust the baking time. Enjoy!




Deluxe Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar


Mix butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and almond extract. Blend in flour, soda and tartar. Wrap in wax paper and chill for at least 3 hours.


Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half. Roll out 3/16ths thick on a floured board. Cut into shapes. Bake 6-7 minutes on a lightly greased cookie sheet.


Creamy Glaze
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2-4 Tbsp HOT water

Melt butter in microwaveable bowl. Blend in sugar and vanilla. Stir in water a little at a time until you get the desired consistency. Frost and decorate.