Ella's White Sugar Cookies

I'm delving into the recipes of the past with this entry. It is a simple sugar cookie recipe with just a few changes. The origins of this recipe are unclear, but it is an old recipe from my grandmother. These delicious cookies were also one of my dad's favorites. These kind of cookies are rolled out, so they're a bit more labor intensive than regular old drop cookies, but when you taste the end result, it's worth it. Rich with butter, accented with pure almond and vanilla extracts, and frosted with a confectioners sugar icing, these cookies can be made all year long using any kind of cutter you wish. In recognition of Valentine's Day, these were cut out using a standard heart-shaped cutter.

Ella's White Sugar Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 egg

1¼ tsp. pure almond extract

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2½ cups flour

1 tsp. kosher salt

Granulated sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until well-blended. Add the egg and extracts, mixing well. Gradually add the flour and salt; mix just until all the flour disappears.

Divide the dough into quarters. Take each quarter and place it on a sheet of waxed paper. Flatten the dough out a bit and wrap it up. Repeat with the remaining dough. Place the dough packets in the refrigerator to chill. A minimum of 2 - 3 hours is best, but if you can't get to making the cookies right away, you can keep the dough in the fridge overnight.

When ready to make, generously flour a pastry cloth and a rolling pin sock (if you have one). Roll each quarter of dough out to ¼" thickness and cut using desired cutters. Repeat using the remaining dough. You can re-roll all the scraps once you are done making the initial batch. Sprinkle the cookies with a bit of granulated sugar, if desired.

Place the cookies on greased baking sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Keep an eye on them, as they have a tendency to burn. Remove the cookies to cooling racks and let cool completely before frosting.

You can make these cookies festive by using food coloring to dye the icing and you can use colored sugars, as well. If you're good at cookie decorating, go nuts with decorating them. Your imagination is the only thing stopping you!

Makes about 5 dozen, depending on the size of the cutter