CUP4CUP SUGAR COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Beat white sugar, 3/4 cup butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a bowl using an electric mixer; beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until mixture is smooth. Mix butter mixture into flour mixture and form dough into a ball. Wrap ball with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Arrange cookies on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Slowly beat confectioners' sugar into cream cheese mixture until icing is smooth; spread onto cooled cookies.

Steps:

• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. With mixer running, slowly sprinkle in sugar and salt; continue beating until fluffy, 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour in two additions, beating just until incorporated. Finish mixing with a rubber spatula to avoid overworking dough. Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Shape into a 5-inch square, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm but still pliable, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place dough between two sheets of lightly floured parchment and roll out 1/4 inch thick. Freeze 15 minutes. Using star cookie cutters (anywhere from 1- to 4-inch), cut out stars. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart. Freeze 30 minutes. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until pale golden brown around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.
• Transfer royal icing to a pastry bag fitted with a coupler and a very narrow tip. Pipe icing onto cookies, either outlining or filling in with icing using a toothpick or small food-safe paintbrush. Decorate with sprinkles. Let stand until icing sets, at least 1 hour.