Tracy's Favorite Sugar Cookies

3 1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbsp nonfat milk
2 1/2 tsp vanilla

preheat oven to 375

whisk together flour, baking powder and salt

In a separate bow, beat until fluffy and blended butter and sugar. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat well.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture.

Divide the dough in half, and place each half between 2 large sheets of wax paper. Roll out to 1/4 in think. Keeping paper in pace, laying rolled out dough on a cookie sheet and either refrigerate until slightly firm (about 30 min), or stick in the freezer for a few minutes.

Working with one sheet at a time (leave other half in the fridge/freezer), gently peel away and replace 1 sheet of the paper (this makes it easier to lift the cookies from the paper later) Peel away and set aside 2nd piece of paper.

Cut out cookies and transfer to cookie sheet spacing about 1.5 in apart. Roll out the dough scraps between wax paper again. Refrigerate or put dough in freezer briefly if it becomes too soft to handle.

Bake 1 sheet at a time, just until the cookies are lightly colored on top and slightly darker at the edges 7-12 min

makes about 2 dozen cookies (more or less depending on the size of cookies you cut out)

*rolling out thicker slabs will give you softer cookies
**top with royal icing

Number of Servings: 25

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user TPIERICK.