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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies & Cream Cheese Frosting

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 3 hours
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sugar Cookies
  • 1 1/4 cups shortening
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp lemon extract secret ingredient
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup buttermilk
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 oz softened cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Method
 

Sugar Cookies
  1. Beat shortening with a mixer on high speed for about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Beat until combined.
  3. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and lemon extract.
  4. Add flour and buttermilk alternately until combined.
  5. Cover the dough and chill for a few hours until it’s easy to handle (not so sticky).
  6. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Lightly flour your surface and rolling pin. Roll dough to about 1/2 inch thick.
  8. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place on cookie sheets.
  9. Bake for about 8–10 minutes, just before the edges start to brown.
  10. Let cool on a wire rack. (Makes about 32 cookies.)
Cream Cheese Frosting
  1. Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer for about 3 minutes, until completely smooth.
  2. Beat in the vanilla.
  3. Beat in the powdered sugar by the cupfuls until all combined.
  4. Once cookies are fully cooled, frost with a blunt knife or spatula and add sprinkles if you’d like.
  5. Refrigerate to set the frosting.

Notes

  • Don’t skip the chill time — it makes the dough much easier to roll and cut.
  • For softer cookies, pull them out right before the edges get too golden.
  • If you want a thicker frosting layer, you can double the frosting recipe.