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The Ultimate Sugar Cookie

These tender sugar cookies have a delicious buttery flavor with a  hint of almond or lemon.   For an extra festive touch, put a little food coloring in the  dough. 

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond OR lemon extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. In a medium bowl, sift or stir the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whip butter until creamy. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and almond-or-lemon extract until well combined. 

3. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined.

4. Divide the dough and form into two disks. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

5. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch thick. Cut with a cookie cutter. With a pastry brush, brush excess flour off of the cookie and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

6. If not icing the cookie, sprinkle with granulated sugar.

7. Bake at 350° for 7 - 8 minutes, until cookies are lightly golden on the bottom. 

8. Place cookies on a cooling rack. Wait until they are completely cooled before icing. 

9. Frost cookies and decorate as desired.
  

Ultimate Cookie Icing

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1-pound (bag or box) powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
5 - 6 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1. Place the butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Blend with a mixer until creamy and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  

2. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 5 Tablespoons of cream. Mix until incorporated. If the icing is too thick and needs to be thinned, add an additional Tablespoon of cream (if too much cream is added, add a little more powdered sugar).