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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.
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 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

2 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Makes

about 2-1/2 dozen

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

Summertime Fun Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
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, 5-7 minutes; beat in extracts and 1 egg 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-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.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 174 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 33mg cholesterol, 107mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Summertime Fun Cookies

Total Time

Makes

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