Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies
Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies are the BEST! They are soft and chewy and are a crowd favorite!
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These cookies were always what were eaten first for any holiday. I have the best memories sneaking out to grab more with my cousins! Cut out cookies have been a tradition in our family, especially around Christmas, for as long as I can remember!
We always used a standard sugar cookie recipe growing up, which was good, but I wanted better! When I got married, my aunts gave me a recipe book with a lot of their favorite recipes. I was so excited to see that my aunt’s cut out cookies were in there! I made some tweaking to make it the way I like it…chewy, soft and delicious…and as a result, we have cookies that won’t stick around!
Here is a step by step guide on how to make Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies!
Make the Dough
The first step in making the dough for Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies, is to take room temperature butter (or slightly softened in the microwave) and cream it with the powdered sugar.
Then, you’ll add the egg and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, add together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Mix together. Add to the wet ingredients. (TIP: to properly measure the flour, use the scoop and measure method. Use a different measuring cup to pour the flour into the one you are using and then scrape off. Scooping the measuring cup you are using into the flour will skew the amount of flour and can make your cookies off.)
Chill for at least one hour.
Make Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies
Flour your surface you will be rolling your cookies out on. I like to use this pastry cloth and rolling pin cover as it really helps prevent sticking. I also like to use these silicon rolling pin bands to have a set thickness for my cookies. The thicker the softer and the better in my opinion!
Take the chilled dough out of the refrigerator, roll out to desired thickness and use your favorite cookie cutters to make fun cookies! Gently lift the shapes off the surface and put them onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Make sure to leave plenty of space as these cookies will grow! Keep using the trimmings to roll out to make more cookies until you have no more. Depending on the size of your cookies and cookie sheet, it will take a few times.
Bake the Cookies
Bake in 350 degree oven for about 5-6 minutes. Keep an eye on them and remove once they start showing a slight color. Be careful not to overcook these cookies. It can lead to hard cookies. Using a spatula, remove from pan shortly after removing from oven. Wait a minute or so, so the cookies will retain their shape. Then, allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
Decorate the Cookies
You can place sprinkles on the uncooked cookie before putting in the oven if you prefer to not have frosting. It still makes it fun and festive. Or you can use buttercream frosting, royal frosting or a simple frosting recipe I used growing up.
Enjoy Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies
Easy Powdered Sugar Frosting
This frosting is so easy, I made it when I was a kid and now my kids make it.
First you will put some powdered sugar into a bowl. The fun part about this is, there is no measuring. If I had to guess what I start with, I would say about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Then add a splash of milk (less is more here!). Mix the powdered sugar and milk until it is smooth. If it is too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add more water. Then, add some food coloring or gel to get your desired color. (Sorry I don’t have pictures of this at this time. I will get them added when I can snap some of my kids making it!)
Auntie’s Cut-Out Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened or room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- 1. Cream softened or room temperature butter and powdered sugar.
- 2. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.
- 3. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and sea salt.
- 4. Combine the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.
- 5. Chill for at least one hour.
- 6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 7. Roll out cookies and bake for 5-6 minutes, keeping an eye on them to prevent them from getting burnt. Once they are slightly turning brown, remove them. Allow to cool on the pan for a minute or so and then using a spatula, remove to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
