Sugar Cookies 4 Ways
The sugar cookie screams “Holiday Season!” and while so many of us bake them we tend to just carry out the traditional sugar cookie. This year that will all change! I’ve transformed my sugar cookie dough to create three different flavors. Including the original sugar cookie, that is FOUR kinds of cookies made easily with ONE cookie dough! And trust me when I say they are all delicious.
To ensure that all four kinds of cookies are delicious, you have to start with the perfect dough. My traditional sugar cookies are PERFECT on their own. They are made better when you add blackberry jam, peppermint flavor, and a ginger spiced mix. Keep in mind this sugar cookie isn’t one that you ice or decorate. This is a drop cookie dough and the result is a fluffy sugared cookie that is insanely yummy.
Try all four or just one. I think a cookie board is a must if make a handful of different cookies! Similar to a cracker and cheese board but with just various cookies. That actually sounds way better than crackers and cheese!
Anyways, try my sugar cookie dough. The full recipe is below. Or try transforming the sugar cookies. The how to for each cookie is below along with some photos to help! Enjoy baking away this holiday season. I know I am as it is helping keep my spirits high!
To start you’ll make the Traditional Sugar Cookie dough. Find the actual directions below, but it should look something like this …
If you’d like to made the Peppermint Swirl Cookies then be sure to cut half of your dough and add red coloring + a few drops of peppermint flavoring one half. Keeping the other half white. Kneed together gently and then chill the dough. Once the dough has chilled, you’ll want to roll out the red dough + white dough together to make a marbled effect.
For the Ginger Spiced Snickerdoodle Cookies you’ll want to dunk the cookie dough balls into the ginger and cinnamon spices before baking. I think these are my most favorite because the I love warm hit of ginger! I also like to add a 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom and a small pinch of black pepper to give it Chai feel.
To make the Thumbprint Cookies it is simple. You’ll want to scoop 2 ounce dough balls and press your thumb into the center of each one. Then add a teaspoon of your favorite jam. I love the tangy blackberry jam with this sweet cookie dough!
Traditional Sugar Cookies
Plus 3 Ways You Can Transform Them!
Ingredients
Traditional Sugar Cookies
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup ( 2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar to coat the cookie dough balls before they go into the oven to bake
Sugar Cookie Thumbprints
-You’ll need about a cup of your favorite jam to add 1 teaspoon of jam into the center of each cookie before baking.
Ginger Spiced Snickerdoodle
-1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger. *Optional, add 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom and a small pinch of black pepper to get a more Chai feel. Mix these spiced together and coat each cookie dough ball before baking in the oven.
Peppermint Swirl
-about 3-6 drops of red food color + 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
Directions
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy and smooth.
Step 2: Add in the eggs and vanilla.
Step 3: Sift your dry ingredients and then slowly add them into your wet ingredients. Mix until a dough form forms.
Step 4: Take the dough and portion it out evenly for each cookie. You can portion the dough for two kinds of cookies or just keep it all one with out portioning it if you are making just one kind of cookie! *If you are making the Peppermint Swirl cookies be sure to half whatever portion you pull for that cookie. With one half add the red food color and peppermint flavor keeping the other half white. After you chill the dough roll the two colored dough balls together to get a marble effect then cut out circles or any shape you’d like. Bake the Peppermint Swirl Cookies at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes.
Step 5: Once you portion out the cookie dough it will need to chill for at least 30 minutes. Since this is a drop cookie (except the Peppermint Swirl Cookies) you’ll need a 2 ounce cookie scoop to measure out each cookie dough ball once the dough has chilled. I love a giant cookie, you can always make a smaller one by using 2 tablespoons as a measure.
Step 6: For the Traditional Sugar Cookies roll each dough ball into some sugar and then place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat about 2 inches apart.
Step 7: For the Thumbprint Cookies measure out each dough ball and then gently press your thumb into the center of each cookie dough ball. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment or silicone baking mat about 2 inches apart. Then add 1 teaspoon of your favorite jam into the center of each cookie.
Step 8: For the Ginger Spiced Snickerdoodles mix together 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger in a small bowl. Then roll each dough ball into a spice mixture before baking. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment or silicone baking mat about 2 inches apart.
Step 9: Bake all the cookies at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until just turing golden brown around the edges. Let the cookies cool and then enjoy!