Christmas Sprinkles Sugar Cookies Recipe – A Festive Holiday Treat

Ingredients:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
• 1/4 cup colorful sprinkles (for topping)

For Icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk (or more for desired consistency)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
2. Make the cookie dough: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully combined.
4. Combine with dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Shape the cookies: Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten the tops of the cookies with the back of a spoon.
6. Bake the cookies: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies just begin to turn golden brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Prepare the icing: In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. If you’d like to add color, divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring.
8. Decorate the cookies: Once the cookies have cooled, spread a thin layer of icing on each cookie and immediately top with colorful sprinkles. Let the icing set for a few minutes before serving.