Vanilla Butter Sugar Cookies

Total Time: 57 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk
• food coloring (optional)
• colored crystal sugar

Recipe

• 1 in a bowl, combine sugar and butter; beat until creamy. add eggs and vanilla; beat well. stir together dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture until completely blended. chill for 30 minutes.
• 2 on a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/4-in. thickness. cut with holiday cutters dipped in flour. using a floured spatula, transfer cookies to ungreased baking sheets. bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. cool on wire racks.
• 3 for frosting, combine sugar, butter, vanilla and milk; beat until creamy. thin with additional milk to desired spreading consistency if necessary. add a few drops of food coloring if desired. spread frosting over cookies and decorate with colored sugar. yield: 7 dozen (2-1/2-in. cookies).