Taylor Swift’s Chai Tea Cookies

 INGREDIENTS

For the Cookies:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch of fresh cracked black pepper
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Cinnamon sugar for rolling

For the Glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for sprinkling the top of the cookies
• 3 tablespoons whole milk or eggnog

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter in a large bowl on medium speed for about 1 minute.  Add the vegetable oil.  It may not fully incorporate with the butter, but that’s ok.  Add the granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and all of the spices. Beat to combine.
3. Add the egg and vanilla, beating on medium speed until completely incorporated.
4. Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt all at once using a wooden spoon or the mixer set on low.
5. The dough will be soft. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour 
6. For large cookies, dollop 2 Tablespoons of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  For smaller cookies use 1 Tablespoon for each cookie.  Press the dough evenly with your fingers or palm to 1/4-inch thickness.  Roll each cookie dough in a small bowl of cinnamon sugar.
7. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes for larger cookies or 8 to 10 minutes for smaller cookies.  Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring to racks to cool completely.
8. In a medium bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients to thick but spreadable. Spread each cooled cookie with glaze just over the center, leaving the edges of the cookie free of glaze. Sprinkle with a bit of fresh nutmeg if you have it. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

AUNT GRETA'S SUGAR COOKIES

2 CUPS SUGAR
1 CUP SOUR CREAM
1 8-0Z. CREAM CHEESE, SOFTENED
3 EGGS
1-1/2 CUPS BUTTER OR MARGARINE

WHIP ALL OF THE ABOVE TOGETHER

3 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER
1/2 TEASPOON SODA
1/2 TEASPOON SALT
5-1/2 CUPS FLOUR
2 TEASPOONS VANILLA OR ALMOND OR ONE OF EACH

MIX UNTIL SMOOTH, THEN DIVIDE INTO THIRDS AND REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR OR OVERNIGHT.

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 10-12 MINUTES.

FROSTING:

1/2 CUP BUTTER
1 8-0Z. CREAM CHEESE
ENOUGH POWDERED SUGAR TO MAKE A STIFF CONSISTENCY
1 TEASPOON VANILLA AND 1 TEASPOON ALMOND --ADJUST THE ALMOND ACCORDING TO TASTE
FOOD COLORING

Sugar Cookie Bars

1 cup butter; room temp.
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla & mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt & soda & stir with a whisk to combine. (or, if you are lazy, like me, just add the dry ingredients and sprinkle the soda and salt all around before mixing!) Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased 13 x 18 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and then frost.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter; room temp
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp milk
food coloring (if desired)

For frosting combine butter and shortening until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Spread over cooled cookie.

Mrs. O'Leary's Sugar Cookies

I got this recipe from my niece, Susanne who got it from her mom, my sister, Rachel. Susanne says: "These are seriously the best Sugar Cookies in the whole wide world!!!" I have to agree.

2 Cups Butter
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
4 1/2 Cup Flour
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream softened butter with all wet ingredients including shgars. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, cream of tartar) then slowly add dry into the wet, mixing as you go. Take dough and roll out to no more than 1/4 of an inch with flour underneath so dough doesn't stick to the counter, then cut out. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly golden. Take out, let cool.