Easter Cookies and my recipe

This is what my cookies look like. They are different sizes...large and small bunnies. Aren't they cute? They take some time to do, but I figure...I can't do much gardening yet and I would have plenty of time to do these. Now if I can just keep that thought after I leave the computer.

I found these cutters at Amazon. Mine are in old fashioned cardboard boxes. It looks like there are many more shapes now days. I didn't do these particular cookies, but I thought ...how easy they would be to do. I may make them like these this year.

I remember at Christmas time, I was asked about a sugar cookie recipe that I have. I said that I would post it here. Well, it's Easter time, and many of us make Easter cookies. Yesterday I gave directions on how to make a paper mache Easter egg. It brought to mind the year when a club that I belonged to had a traveling dessert project. We members would get a basket with a nut bread or cookies etc. delivered to our door. We would keep the treat and put some money in the basket and another treat and take it to another member. It was a way of making money for our club. The first time I did this was at Easter time. I made one of these paper mache eggs and put little decorated Easter cookies in it. Little bunnies, chicks, crosses etc. It was such a hit...the recipient loved it. I am going to post my cookie recipe here, so that maybe someone will want to make some of these cookies.

Mary's Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup granulated sugar for decoration


DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; blend into the creamed mixture. Cover and chill for at least two hours.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Divide the dough into two parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of the dough out to 3/16 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle cookies with plain or colored granulated sugar.
Bake for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

These cookies are a little more delicate than some recipes. The confectioners sugar and almond extract give them a sweeter flavor. I decorated them with frosting. I used currants for eyes. Don't you just love the pastel colors of Easter?

Balisha