Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs 🎄 31 Days of Cookies

Not only are these festive sugar cookie cut-outs are a Christmas classic, but they match the cover of A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR. I prefer my sugar cookies to have a hint of almond, but you can substitute any extract from peppermint to vanilla or orange to buttered rum. These are the perfect cookies to bake and decorate with the entire family!

Ingredients

For the cookies:
1 cup butter
½ cup sugar
2 ¼ cups flour
½ tsp salt
1 egg
1 ½ tsps almond extract

For the frosting:
½ cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 ½ – 3 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Cream butter and sugar together in a mixer. Add egg and almond extract and mix well. Slowly incorporate flour and salt. Roll dough into a large ball and chill for one hour. Lightly flour a cutting board and roll out chilled dough to 1/8 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to create holiday shapes and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350° F for 6-8 minutes. Allow to cool.

For the frosting—whip butter in the mixer. Slowly incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream. Then mix on high setting for 5 minutes, or until frosting is creamy and light.

Frost cooled cookies with vanilla buttercream and holiday sprinkles.