Sugar Cookie Bake-Off

Since moving to West Palm Beach, our old stand-by sugar cookie recipe just hasn't seemed to work the way it used to, so this holiday season we tried a new one as well, one that had received a lot of high reviews online. The idea was to have the kids rate which one was better. Unfortunately, it wasn't an easy decision; everyone had a different opinion! 

I preferred the taste of our old recipe, yet liked the fact that the new one held its shape better (which is a good quality for cut-out Christmas cookies). Others preferred the taste of the new one better, but liked the softer texture of the old one. Oh well, I guess we may have to do this experiment again sometime!

New one on the left - holds shape better. Old one on the right - softer texture. Both taste great.


Sugar Cookies from Our Best Bites (the "new" recipe)

1 cup real butter (no substitutions!) at room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 egg (make sure to use a large or extra large egg)

1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract (or other flavor of your choice, like vanilla)

3 cups flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled (don’t scoop it!)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in egg and extract and mix to incorporate.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until completely combined. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

When you’re ready to roll out dough lightly sprinkle flour onto your work surface and roll out dough with a rolling pin. Transfer to cookie sheet and bake at 350° for 8-12 minutes.


Edited 9/20/2018:
I came across another "new" recipe, which has different ratios from both of these. Maybe I'll give it a try sometime.

Lisa's Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream butter (I used 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup butter-flavored Crisco) and sugar, then beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, then mix into cookie dough. Chill for 2-3 hours, then roll out on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 375° for 8 minutes. Frost as desired.