Sugar cookies Galore!

Happy Valentines Day!

I love the day set aside for LOVE!

I got a little carried away with sugar cookies this year. You know how you are always in search of the best sugar cookie recipe? I have one that is my stand by and I do love it. However, I decided it would be fun to try a few different kinds and I got carried away.

Cookies with almond flavoring have always held appeal for me....I wasn't overly fond of this recipe even though it had great reviews. To each their own, but it was a bit too dry for my tastes. Flavor-wise it was good.

Almond Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

 1 egg

 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

 1 teaspoon baking soda

 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

 1/4 cup granulated sugar for decoration

Mix as usual; beat butter and sugar, add egg. Add sifted dry ingredients. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

I thought perhaps a chocolate brownie sugar cookie would be delicious. I wasn't fond of this one either; too chocolatey...

Chocolate brownie cookie

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, softened 

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa 

Preheat oven at 350 degrees Do the usual sugar and butter, add egg then the dry ingredients. Bake for 9 min at 350

I made a brown sugar cookie too...

Sugar Cookie

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream shortening, butter, and.brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Mix. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Bake at 350* for 10 minutes. I rolled these out too thin and they were crunchy! Good flavor except I can taste things made from shortening opposed to butter and I prefer a delicious buttery taste. 

Then I decided to try a recipe I have that has nutmeg in it. I really liked this one; especially as the days went by. It stayed very soft!

Nutmeg sugar cookies

1 c. butter
1 & 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c. whole milk or cream
4 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Cream the first two things. Add eggs and milk. Blend in flour and other dry ingredients. Chill for at least one hour. Bake at 350* for 10 minutes.

AND I also made some orange sugar cookies (yes, it is okay if you think I'm crazy at this point). :) I can offer an explanation...
I had just finished up my midterms and I hadn't been able to take the time to bake for a few weeks! So I was starving for some time in the kitchen! 
It was VERY satisfying!

Orange sugar cookies

1 & 1/2 c. sugar
1 & 1/3 c. butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. grated orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. whole milk plus 2 tsp. of whole milk

Mix the sugar and butter, add eggs, zest and vanilla. Blend in flour, salt, and powder. Add milk until just combined. Refrigerate for a couple hours at least.
Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake at 350* for 9 minutes.
I frosted these with an orange juice icing. They were fabulous!!

For most of these cookies, I simply made variations of my go-to frosting...

1/3 c. butter
1/4 c. liquid (milk, orange juice, etc.)
4 and 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 & 1/2 tsp. vanilla or other flavoring

Cream butter and add about half the powdered sugar. Beat in the flavoring and liquid. Adjust as needed by adding more powdered sugar or more liquid.