(Colored sprinkles, decorating sugar, or nonpareils)
Sub-recipe steps
Beat in a large bowl, or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, until creamy: 2 sticks (8 oz or 225g) unsalted butter, softened; ⅔ cup (130g) sugar
Add and beat until combined: 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla or almond extract; (Finely grated zest of 1 lemon)
Beat in: 1 large egg
Stir in until blended: 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Divide the dough into thirds, shape into disks, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 1 day.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease or line 2 baking sheets or cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Working with 1 portion of dough at a time, roll out ¼ inch thick. Cut out cookies using 2- or 3-inch cutters and arrange about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gather the scraps and reroll one time to cut more cookies. If desired, sprinkle the cookies very lightly with: (Colored sprinkles, decorating sugar, or nonpareils)
Bake until the cookies are lightly colored on top and slightly darker at the edges, 10 to 12 minutes, switching oven racks and rotating the sheets halfway through. Let cool on the sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, decorate the cooled cookies with: (Royal Icing)
Sugar
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 cup finely chopped toasted nuts
About ¾ cup any flavor preserves or jam
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients — no prep needed yet.
1 Rolled Sugar Cookies
Sugar
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 cup finely chopped toasted nuts
About ¾ cup any flavor preserves or jam
Let's Cook
Step 1.
Prepare the dough for: Rolled Sugar Cookies
Step 2.
Roll the dough into a ball, wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes for easier handling.
Step 3.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease or line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 4.
Form the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll them in: Sugar
Step 5.
Or, for a fancier cookie, roll in: 1 egg white, slightly beaten
Step 6.
and then in: 1 cup finely chopped toasted nuts
Step 7.
Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Depress the center of each cookie with your thumb and fill the centers of the cookies with: About ¾ cup any flavor preserves or jam
Step 8.
using about 1 teaspoon per cookie. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes, switching racks and rotating the sheets halfway through. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes on the sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.