Sugar Cookies with Almond Icing

When it comes to sugar cookies, I’m very particular. I like thick, soft, dense, moist cookies with lots of icing.  Crunchy cookies have their place, but I don’t believe that frosted sugar cookies fall into that category.

My dear friend, Alicia, shared this cookie recipe with me several years ago, and I’ve never looked back. I love it! The icing recipe comes from the kitchen of my cousin, Jan. The almond extract in both the cookie and the icing is the secret weapon!

Alicia tells me that she’s substituted strawberry flavoring for the almond extract, and that was yummy, too. If you decide to substitute the almond extract for another flavor, I would suggest substituting the same flavor for the almond extract in the icing.

I included these on my Valentine goody plates, and I’ve some requests for the recipe, so here it is Ladies!

Alicia’s Sugar Cookies

1-1/2  c sugar
1 c butter, softened
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract (or any other flavor)
4-1/2 c AP flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

Cream sugar, butter, and eggs until smooth. Add flavorings. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Once combined, add to wet ingredients until combined.

Chill dough for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350.

Divide chilled dough in half. Roll out dough into a 1/4-inch thick circle. Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Continue to roll out all dough until it has all been used (or eaten). 😉

Bake 6-8 minutes. Let cool on pan for a few minutes to complete the cooking. Transfer to wire rack.

Cool completely before frosting.

Jan’s Almond Icing

1/2 c butter, softened
3 c powdered sugar
1/4 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2  – 1 tsp almond extract (or any other flavoring)

Beat all ingredients and keep firm but spreadable. Add more powdered sugar if needed.