Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

This is the first time I have attempted this sugar cookie recipe. The last time I made sugar cookies from a Betty Crocker mix, but this time I wanted to try something different. I decided to try making these cookies for my cousin for Christmas.  Her favorite cookies are sugar cookies with frosting.  I ran out of time for frosting, but I am glad these cookies turned out so great!

I found the recipe in my “Better Homes & Garden Cookbook:  Celebrating the Promise (Limited Edition).”

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high-speed for 30 seconds.  Add the 1 1/2 cups sugar, beat until combined.  Beat in eggs, cream of tartar, baking soda, vanilla, and salt until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in remaining flour.  Cover and chill for 2-3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Roll balls in the 1/4 cup sugar to coat.  Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 9-12 minutes or until light brown.  Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.  Makes about 48 cookies.

I did have a little complication with the dough of these cookies.  They were so sticky when I tried to roll them into balls, so I tried to flour my hands after each ball, but I still ended up in a sticky mess.  Other than that, the recipe was pretty simple.  I will say that baking cookies while pregnant left me exhausted.  I made these cookies and chocolate chip cookies (recipe following) all in one day and I had to take a nap in between.  At least they got done and turned out delicious.