Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 cup margarine, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Sift and Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside for later.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar and softened margarine with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. This step is crucial for achieving that soft, tender crumb in the cookies.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the first egg, then the second egg, along with the vanilla extract, ensuring everything is well combined. The mixture should be smooth and slightly fluffy.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients Together: Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing, as that can lead to tough cookies instead of soft ones.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 2 hours. Chilling the dough ensures that your cookies hold their shape and bake evenly.
- Preheat and Prepare Cookie Sheets: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease two cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Roll, Cut, and Bake: On a clean, floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to create fun holiday shapes, then arrange them on your cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the edges turn a light golden brown.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once completely cool, they’re ready for decorating—or simply eating!
Notes
- Chilling the dough is key. This step shouldn’t be skipped as it helps the cookies retain their shape while baking.
- If you don’t have margarine, you can substitute it with butter, though it may alter the texture slightly.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon to the dough for a more festive touch.
- If you want extra chewy cookies, slightly underbake them and let them cool on the hot tray.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg