Granny Ellen’s Sugar Cookies

My twins are such lucky grand kids! Every major holiday, they can look forward to a special care package from Grammy and G-Joe filled with lots of special treats. The most special treat of all are Grammy’s homemade sugar cookies, a recipe handed down to her from her mom. Granny Ellen’s sugar cookie recipe is amazing!

Here’s what you need to make these yummy sugar cookies.

2 ½ cups flour
1 ½ cup confectioners’ sugar (C&H brand works well)
1 stick butter
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
Frosting: 1 pound confectioners’ sugar and milk or water.
various colors food coloring and/or sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, then add egg and vanilla. Stir in the flour. Roll out dough about ¼ inch thick and cut into desired cookies shapes (kids will love this part!). You can use powdered sugar or flour to coat your surface before rolling. (Powdered sugar seems to stabilize the cookies better.) Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 7 – 10 minutes (until light brown). Let cool.

Mix remaining powdered sugar (about one pound for 32 cookies) with enough water or milk (milk may set frosting better) to flow smoothly. Spread frosting on cooled cookies with a table knife. Dry at least overnight and then paint with small brush using various food colors. Kids can get as creative as they want “painting” on the cookies! As an alternative to painting the cookies, you can add sprinkles once the frosting is just set, but not completely dry.

Enjoy!