I won’t pretend these are anything but delicious and fun- and decidedly not healthy- cookies. I’m always amazed, though, at how happy these cookies make people. I’m happy when I make them, happy when I eat them, and whenever I’ve gifted them to anyone, they can’t hide the happiness on their faces either.
It must be the colored sugar? Which I make myself, by the way- it’s ridiculously simple- just add a few drops of your favorite food coloring to a little tupperware or sealed ziploc bag of sugar (try to get the larger crystals, if you can) and shake shake shake. I’m particular to pink.
And the cookies? Couldn’t be easier- and absolutely delicious:
Happy-making Sugar Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (or 1 cup) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon milk or buttermilk. I interchange this with no problems.
Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
Colored sugar crystals
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside. In the bowl of your mixer, cream butter and sugar together until light in color- around 3 minutes. Add egg and milk and beat to combine.
With mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture, and beat until incorporated. Do not overbeat. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Take your chilled dough and roll it out using powdered sugar to keep it from sticking. Cut into shapes. If you don’t want to roll it out, roll it into a cylinder and slice rounds from it. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, just until cookies are beginning to brown around the edges.
While still hot, sprinkle with colored sugar. Smile and enjoy.