My Great Aunt Vern's Sugar Cookies

my great-aunt vern's sugar cookies




When I was growing up these were the only sugar cookie that I knew existed!

It wasn't until I got out in this big wide world of ours, did I know that people even FROSTED sugar cookies?!?

Hey, don't laugh.

We had 3 TV channels, 4 if you count PBS that came in fuzzy.... but we watched Electric Company anyway!

But that's another story. 

Most Christmases we cut these out with cookie cutters.  My Mom waited until Christmas break, so that my brother and I could help.

We colored our own sugar with food coloring and sprinkled them before we baked them.  If we were feeling crazy, we might add a "red hot" or two!

These days, my mom makes them just plain 'ol round cookies, and I am pretty sure she still colors her own sugar.  Who needs those silly sprinkles anyway?

(shhhhh....don't tell her.... I have an entire DRAWER full of sprinkles!!

 It's an addiction...kinda like shoes and lip gloss.)

She sprinkles them with red and green sugar, and she makes them for her friends and for her twin sister, and for my brother and I. 

She gave me mine Tuesday night.

(again....shhhhh .... my kids don't know that they are here.)

Is that wrong that I hide them from my children??

Well, I am not TOTALLY mean, I will share SOME of them.  But if I put that tin out on my counter, it'll be like the Cookie Monster said "Hey look over there! It's Snuffalupagus!" and by the time I looked back ALL of them would be gone.

Homemade sugar and all.

(and yes...busted...I watched Sesame Street, too)

So, I am going to share these delightful little bites with you, my virtual friends.

If you are a tea drinker...I highly recommend you brew yourself a pot when you sit down to eat all of these at once.  errr... I mean...have a cookie.

If you like those chewy cookies with the icing...well, I have a recipe for you, too...coming in the next day or so.  

But in the meanwhile, these are crisp and flaky and just plain MELT in your mouth delicious!!

Great Aunt Vern's Sugar Cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
5 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cream of tartar

Preheat over to 375.
Cream the first 5 ingredients together. Stir the next 5 ingredients together and fold into the butter mixture and stir to combine.  Form dough into small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and press cookies to flatten.
Sprinkle with colored sugar and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Makes approximately 10 dozen cookies.