Best Ever Sugar Cookies

Its been a long time since I've shared a recipe and now that fall has arrived in all of its glory, I have found myself overcome with the urge to bake, so you my dear readers, get recipes.

Through the years, these leaf cookies have become a family tradition. When the first day of fall arrives, these cookies are baking. A basic sugar cookie underneath, and soon transformed by fall colored sprinkles, these are one of the ways we welcome fall in our family. I don't even remember how many years I have been making these, but I should warn you that between the cookie dough and the frosting, there is enough sugar to keep small children bouncing off the wall for a very long time.

I once made 200 of these in the shape of bears for the school carnival. We let the kids frost and decorate them and the booth was a huge hit. It was the top money maker that year, but they never had it again because no one wanted to volunteer to make that many cookies! I don't blame them - that was A LOT of cookies!

Sugar Cookies

3/4 C butter

1 1/2 C powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 large egg

2 3/4 C flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

*In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. At low speed, gradually beat flour mixture into butter and shortening. Beat well. I then roll out the dough between waxed paper and freeze it. Freezing the dough makes it very easy to cut out the cookies and transfer them to a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Wilton Frosting

1/2 C shortening

1/2 C butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

4 C powdered sugar

2 Tbsp milk

*Cream butter and shortening. Add vanilla, Gradually add sugar one cup at a time. Add milk until desired consistancy is reached. This freezes well. Makes 3 cups.

So, if you happen to be stopping by on the first day of Autumn, you can be assured these will be waiting for you. The day after - not so much!