NORTHWEST wedding COLLECTION

Simple Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
2 ½ cups all purpose flour plus extra for rolling dough
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup white granulated sugar*
½ cup powdered sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a stand mixer or with an electric beater, cream together the butter and sugars. Add egg yolks, one at a time and the vanilla extract. Incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the butter and sugar mixture gradually. Turn dough out onto sheet of parchment or plastic wrap. Form dough into a disk, wrap in parchment or cling wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out cookie dough onto a floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out hearts by first dipping cookie cutter in flour. Transfers cut cookies to baking sheet and bake 10-15 minutes, until edges begin to turn a light golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and decorate as desired.

*For variety, try flavoring your own sugar: Add 1-2 cups of granulated sugar to a re-sealable bag or container for 2-3 days with one of the following for a fun take on an old classic: 2 large pieces of citrus peel, 1 teaspoon of finely chopped rosemary leaves, 2 Tablespoons lavender, a vanilla bean (split lengthwise), other whole spices in a cheesecloth sachet such as star anise or cardamom. Roll or shake the container of sugar occasionally to distribute the flavor evenly.