Summertime Fun Cookies

Name: Summertime Fun Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Desserts, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 2 large eggs; 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; FROSTING:; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 2 to 4 tablespoons hot water; Blue food coloring; Optional decorations: bear-shaped crackers, fish-shaped graham crackers, AirHeads candies, gummy sour rings, white sugar pearls and palm tree party picks

Use this basic sugar cookie recipe to make the perfect poolside treat. Kids won't be able to get enough. —Coleen Walter, Bancroft, Michigan

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
FROSTING:
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 to 4 tablespoons hot water
Blue food coloring
Optional decorations: bear-shaped crackers, fish-shaped graham crackers, AirHeads candies, gummy sour rings, white sugar pearls and palm tree party picks

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in extracts and eggs, one at a time. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 3 in. apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets; flatten slightly with bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Bake until edges begin to brown, 8-10 minutes. Remove from pan to wire racks; cool completely.
For frosting, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, extract and enough water to reach desired consistency; tint blue with food coloring. Spread over cookies. Decorate as desired.

Test Kitchen tips

Cream of tartar is an acid. When combined with baking soda, it creates carbon dioxide, helping these cookies puff up just a bit. It also gives them their signature soft texture.

Vanilla extract can be used in place of almond extract in both the cookie dough and frosting.

A little bit of nutmeg goes a long way. Just ¼ tsp. will make these cookies taste like they came from a bakery.