christmas all butter sugar cookies

How To Make christmas all butter sugar cookies

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  Step 1
  In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar.
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  Step 2
  Add in the egg and almond extract. Beat to combine.
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  Step 3
  Add in the flour, salt, and baking powder.
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  Step 4
  Beat until thoroughly mixed.
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  Step 5
  Turn the dough out. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
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  Step 6
  Roll out to between a 1/8 - 1/4" thickness. I use the silicone rolling pin guides; they look like thick rubber bands.
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  Step 7
  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Use a floured cookie cutter of your choice to cut out the cookies. Reroll the excess.
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  Step 8
  Transfer the shapes to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Leave 1 - 2" between the cookies. They don't spread, but they will cook more evenly this way.
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  Step 9
  Bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on how you like your cookies. I prefer mine somewhat crisp (they will soften a tad after being decorated), so I bake mine until they are not colored much on top but the bottoms are golden.
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  Step 10
  Allow to sit on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Then remove to a cooling rack.
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  Step 11
  To make the frosting, beat the butter, almond extract, salt, and 1 Tbsp milk until combined.
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  Step 12
  Add all the powdered sugar.
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  Step 13
  Add more milk as needed, 1 tsp at a time until you get a good piping consistency. You can adjust as needed adding more powdered sugar or milk. I tinted mine lightly with Wilton cornflower blue gel colors.
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  Step 14
  Use a 12" decorating bag and a #3 round decorating tip to pipe the lines on the snowflake. I piped straight from tip to tip first. Then place a dot in the center, at the intersection of the lines. Then begin making the side lines to each arm of your snowflake. After piping the snowflake, I gently turn it over in a small shallow bowl of white sparkling sugar to give it a light sparkle.
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  Step 15
  Allow to dry/harden on a sheet pan.
• Step 16
  Pack in an airtight container, stacked with wax paper between layers. Cookies stay fresh for several days at room temperature. You can bake the cookies ahead and freeze them undecorated in airtight containers. Then decorate when desired. No need to defrost, you can begin decorating frozen cookies. Just be sure to leave the container open as cookies come to room temperature, so they don't create condensation in the container.
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