What is a good recipe to make excellent sugar cookies?
This is my all time favorite recipe. These cookies can be decorated in a variety of ways. They can be sprinkled with colored sugar crystals before baking, or decorated with royal icing using a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip, or a small plastic bag with a corner snipped off. You may use either a vanilla bean or vanilla extract in this recipe. Ingredients: * 16 Tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature * 3/4 cup sugar * 3 egg yolks * 1 piece vanilla bean, about 2 inches long, or 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract * 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour * 1 tsp. baking powder * 1/2 tsp. salt * Colored sugars and decorating pens Directions: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and, using a small, sharp knife, scrape the seeds into the butter mixture. If using vanilla extr
