Cracked Sugar Cookies & Cream Cheese Cutouts for Lindsey

No pretty pictures this time, Lindsey asked me for a recipe on Facebook and rather than post a comment there, I'll put the recipes here where everyone can read them (and Google can see them!).

You said dinosaur-shaped sugar cookies Lindsey, but sugar cookies are drop cookies rolled in sugar, so I think you mean a rolling cut out cookie dough. I'll give you my favorite of both:

This is one of the older recipes in my box.

Cracked Sugar Cookies:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened (my mom swears by the unsalted part, so take heed)

1 1/2 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla

As usual, cream butter, sugar and eggs then the soda, tartar, vanilla and finally flour. Roll 3 tblsp into balls and roll in white granulated sugar. Bake on parchment paper (preferably on a baking stone) 350 for 10-12 minutes. Don't let them brown.

Cream Cheese Cut-Outs:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 package (4 oz) cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

*I typically double this recipe and use a whole container of cream cheese; if you're going to spend the time to make them, you might as well make a decent-sized batch.

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, powder and cream cheese before adding flour. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, then cut into sections and work dough on well floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Cut out in desired shapes (cookie dough can be recycled if mixed well and refrigerated again), bake on parchment paper at 350 10-12 minutes (do not brown!).

Cookie Frosting:

2 sticks (1 cup) butter, cold

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 tblsp cream or milk

Beat powdered sugar into the butter until stiff, then add vanilla and cream until desired consistency. Add food coloring if you want (beware your clothes!).

That's it!