Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Creative:

These cookies are perfect. There is nothing complex about them. They are versatile. They are universally-loved by all. And they can be dressed up ANY way you like. The recipe base is from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens recipe book. It is simply called Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies. 

Now, these aren't your typical 'make the dough, refrigerate it, roll it out, cut it into special shapes, and finish with frosting' sugar cookies. No, these are simple, yet elegant, 'make the dough, roll it in sugar, and bake it' sugar cookies. This is one of those recipes in my cookbook that is used so often, it is hard to open the page because of all the butter, egg, and water marks. Not to mention the clumps of flour stuck to the butter, egg, and water marks. When you come across a page like that in a baker's cookbook, you know you've found something great. 

I have made these dozens of times, and each time, I have added a new variation, different from the last. I have stuffed the dough with Rolo candies, baked the cookies as is and topped with Hershey's Kisses right after removing from the oven, and even dipped them into sprinkles prior to baking. I always love using M&Ms in my cookies. But this time, I thought it would be extra special to add mini chocolate chips INSIDE the dough, and then top the cookies with cute Valentine's M&Ms prior to baking. My idea worked. Just ask V-man.

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Prep: 30 minutes

Chill: 2 hours (optional)

Bake: 9 minutes per batch

Yield: About 48 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 c. butter, softened
• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 3/4 c. flour
• 1/4 - 1/3 c. additional sugar
• Optional: 3/4 c. mini chocolate chips
• Optional: 1/2 c. dark chocolate M&Ms

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1 1/2 c. sugar; beat until combined. Beat in eggs, cream of tartar, baking soda, vanilla, and salt until combined. Beat in the flour (and chocolate chips, if using). 
2. Optional: Cover and chill for 2-3 hours. I don't usually do this step and the cookies come out perfect. If you have the time, it will allow for your cookies to bake fuller. But if you want a quick cookie treat, they are perfect baked right away.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in the 1/4 c. sugar to coat. (Hand-place 4-5 M&Ms on each ball of dough). Place balls 2-inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. 
4. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until light brown. (I know they are done when you can see the top of the cookies visibly cracked throughout). Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

  

Compassionate:

"Do you have anything I can bring to a potluck for lunch...today?" asked Shaner as he walked out the door for work. Being the baker that I am, my thoughts first went to cookies. Which cookies would be fast, easy, fun for V-man to help with, and taste delicious at the potluck? Old-fashioned sugar cookies, of course. I had purchased dark chocolate M&Ms in Valentine's colors earlier, so I had to utilize those in the batch. According to my official taste-tester, V-man, the dough was superb, the chocolate was...chocolate, and the only thing that would have made them better, was marshmallows. We'll have to throw that into another batch another time. 

We dropped them off at the potluck by 11 am that morning and they were devoured. Mission accomplished.

Fortunately, I had a couple cookies leftover that I was able to share with my visiting teachee and my visiting teaching companion. How convenient! 

Happy:

How often do I get notice about a potluck happening that day, or the next day, you ask? Quite often, actually. But it's all good. I am blessed to have a constant desire to bake something, so when the opportunity arises, even if last-minute, I am happy to do so. In fact, I LOVE when Shaner mentions a need for treats. It gives me a perfect opportunity to rack my recipe brain and figure out something magical. Plus, the recipients couldn't be happier to partake. 

Try these old-fashioned sugar cookies, and you will be shocked at how easy they are to make...and eat! Share your own variations in the comments if you'd like.

Enjoy!