Sugar Cookies


This is a great recipe and can be used for any holiday or occasion.  We love to make hearts on Valentine's Day too.







½ cup butter (1 stick)                          ¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup sugar                                         2 cups flour
1 Egg, large                                          1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. milk                                          ¼ tsp. nutmeg (optional)

In electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together.  Beat in egg, then milk.  Add vanilla.  Blend salt and nutmeg into flour.  Mix flour into dough.  Knead on pastry cloth then put in Ziploc bag and refrigerate for about an hour or overnight if you want to bake later.

Roll out dough onto lightly floured surface and press with cookie cutters.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.

Make frosting below.  Frost cookies with butter-cream frosting or lemon glaze. 


Butter-cream Frosting:

1/2 cup butter (1 stick real butter not margarine)

1/2 cup shortening

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

2 Tbsp. milk

In electric mixer, cream butter, shortening and vanilla.  Add sifted powdered sugar and milk. Continue to mix at high speed until icing is blended.  Tint with icing color if desired.

Lemon Glaze:

1 to 2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 ¼  cups powdered sugar

Stir together in a bowl.  Tint with icing color or food coloring if desired.