Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies are the perfect cookie to make for the Jolly Old Man who makes his way down your chimney every year. Wow, that’s super creepy when you say it out loud.

Either way, these cookies are super easy to make and are fun for the whole family to make! And these are the perfect cookie to decorate with family and friends. If you plan on decorating with frosting, you can leave off the optional glaze at the end.

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup butter, softened
• 1 Cup granulated white sugar
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
• 1 egg
• 2 Teaspoons baking powder
• 3 Cups AP flour
• 1Teaspoon Salt

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350.

Step 2:

In a mixer (or bowl with a hand mixer) cream softened butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.

Step 3:

Crack egg into measuring cup and lightly beat, add vanilla into the egg, then add both to the mixer.

Step 4:

In a medium bowl, add flour, baking  and a dash of salt. Mix together and add a scoop at a time until it’s all incorporated.

Step 5:

Divide dough into four, then begin to roll it out. Roll out to desired thickness.

Thinner and the cookies will be crispier; thicker and they’ll be chewier.  We settled on 1/4 of an inch.

Another tip, if you let the dough sit for thirty minutes before rolling the cookies will be a crispier as well, and if you roll immediately they will be softer and more chewy. We’ve made these a couple of times, and the results have varied, but the taste is always delicious!

Step 6:

Bake for about 7 minutes.

Step 7: 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Optional Glaze: 

Combine the juice of half a lemon, about a cup of powdered sugar (sifted), a tablespoon of vanilla bean paste (or extract), and a splash of half and half.

Mix the ingredients together till it forms a delicious glaze. Adjust to your liking and desired to consistency. It’s really about what you like, like lemon? Add more lemon. Don’t like vanilla (craaazy!) take out some vanilla.

You get the idea! Mix and match, and if it’s too thick, had more half and half or lemon juice!