Happy 4th Sugar Cookies

Just a good classic sugar cookie here, especially nice for doing holiday shapes. We made these in moon and pumpkin shapes for the preschool Halloween party, and hearts for Valentine's day. We're taking these to the neighborhood picnic after the local parade today.When I'm making sugar cookies for myself I like a nice thick buttercream frosting on top - it's the best part of the cookie! But when I'm making them ahead of time, to package and/or take somewhere, it's nice to use this glaze that hardens enough so they don't get messed up in transit. For Valentine's day we let them set, then wrapped them in individual cellophane bags for each of Hazel's classmates. A very clean situation, this glaze. And as you can see, it holds any topping you can dream of.Our Mecham cousins are our newest neighbors so we had the girls over, on their second day here, to help decorate. What good baking fun!Unfortunately Ginger was napping while we decorated, but when she woke up she became the self-designated clean-up crew.

Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

1. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover; chill dough at least 1 hour, or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 400. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely before icing. Makes 5 to 5 1/2 dozen 3-inch cookies.

Shiny Glaze
3 cups confectioners' sugar (I add a little more to make it thicker)
3 T light corn syrup
6 T water or milk
About 1 tsp flavoring (vanilla, peppermint, almond extract, etc.)
Food coloring as desired

Stir sugar, corn syrup and water together. Stir in flavoring and food coloring. Glaze dries quickly so stir it often with a whisk. Dip top of cookie gently into glaze. Hold over bowl to let excess drip off. Decorate with sprinkles, candy, etc. Allow to sit on wire rack until glaze sets hard and shiny. Ices about as many cookies as the above recipe makes. Easy to cut or multiply.
Recipes from Allrecipes.com, January 2009