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Cracked Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Teresa Ambra
Cracked Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting are so drool-worthy, you'll be salivating from the first taste! These spectacular Sugar Cookies crack when they bake! The Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is to die for! Color the frosting and sprinkle the cookies with the sprinkles of your choice. These sensational cookies can be used for any kind of holiday baking, but they're particularly marvelous for Christmas and Valentine's Day.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 275 kcal

Equipment

  • 2 large 18x26" cookie sheet pans
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 heavy wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula

Ingredients
  

SUGAR COOKIES:

  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

  • 1 stick unsalted butter softened to room temperature (1/2 cup)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp. real vanilla extract use real vanilla not imitation
  • 2-3 tbsp. heavy cream or half and half don't substitute milk
  • 4 drops food coloring as desired
  • 1/2 cup assorted sprinkles as desired

Instructions
 

SUGAR COOKIES:

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.
  • Cream together granulated sugar and butter with an electric mixer.
  • Beat in egg yolks and vanilla.
  • Add flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
  • Stir until well combined or use an electric mixer to mix thoroughly.
  • Form dough into walnut size balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
  • Don't flatten.
  • Bake 11 to 12 minutes, until tops are cracked and just turning color.
  • Rotate cookie sheets on oven racks half way through cooking time.
  • Allow cookies to cool in pan before removing to wire racks.
  • Cool completely.

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

  • Place all the ingredients except food coloring and sprinkles in a mixing bowl.
  • Mix with an electric mixer for 5 minutes or so to get a really nice texture.
  • If desired, separate icing into different bowls and color each batch as desired.
  • Spread on cookies or cake.
  • Sprinkle with assorted sprinkles, jimmies, colored sugar crystals or nonpareils as desired.
  • Makes about 2 cups of frosting.

Notes

NOTE: My oven took about 15 minutes, but you do not want to overbake these. It is better to take them out before they are completely done than overbake them.
 
NOTE: My daughter-in-law and her sister beat the frosting ingredients in their big mixer for almost 10 minutes providing a super, creamy, rich texture.
 
NOTE: Add several drops of food coloring of your choice, depending on the occasion. Sprinkle with jimmies, non-pareils, sparkles or sprinkles, or colored sugar.
 
Cookie recipe adapted from All Recipes. Icing recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 60mgPotassium: 39mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 403IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
Keyword buttercream frosting, christmas cookie exchange, cookie, dessert, sugar cookie, valentine's day
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