best-ever sugar cookie recipe!

Shared with me by a good friend (thanks Carol!) this sugar cookie recipe is, in my humble opinion, the best ever. When rolling the dough, I like to keep it nice and thick, and then bake the cut-outs only until lightly golden. This will give you a batch of soft cookies just right for sharing on Valentine's Day!

Cookies:

1 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. salt
2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Cream together butter and sugar; blend in egg. Add remaining ingredients stirring until well blended. Chill dough, covered, 3 hours. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick; cut with cookie cutters. Arrange cut-outs on an ungreased baking sheet; bake at 350 degrees 8 to 10  minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool before frosting. Yield depends on cookie cutter size.

Frosting:

1 T. butter, melted
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/4 t. lemon juice
food coloring as desired

Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Makes about 1/3 cup.

A quick trip to the flea market will find you coming home with lots of oh-so pretty vintage plates and teacups. Arranged on a sweetly flowered dessert plate or tucked inside a cheery teacup, your home-baked cookies will be a heartfelt gift friends, neighbors and teachers will love receiving. Hmmm, on second thought, you'd better double the recipe!