Linda's Sugar Cookies

This is the best sugar cookie dough ever!

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Stir together sugar, butter, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg in a large bowl.
2. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
4. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
5. Roll dough out to about 1/4 inch or just a bit more on a lightly floured board. Cut with your favorite seasonal or everyday cookie cutters.
6. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown.
7. Remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack.
8. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
9. Decorate or frost as desired.

Notes

I bake my cookies for the least amount of time and the tops do not change color.

This makes a lot of dough. Extracts can be substituted as desired; for example peppermint extract for the almond extract, brown sugar extract, rum extract, etc. Or simply use 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Recipe can easily be halved.

Dough can be divided and colored, if desired. I prefer to use paste food coloring rather than liquid.

Attribution

Photo credit: yummysmellsca on Visualhunt.com