Yields: 24-30 cookies Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 8-12 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Equipment:
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (hand or stand)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone mats
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prepare:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Shape the Cookies:
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
- Bake:
- Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool:
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips and Variations:
- Chocolate Chips: Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips for classic chocolate chip cookies.
- Sprinkles: Before baking, press sprinkles onto the tops of the cookies.
- Extracts: Experiment with different extracts, such as almond or lemon, for different flavors.
- Cinnamon Sugar: Before baking, roll the dough balls in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
- Peanut Butter: Add 1/2 cup of peanut butter to the butter/sugar mixture.
- Flatten: For flatter cookies, flatten the dough balls slightly with the bottom of a glass before baking.
- Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Enjoy your simple and delicious Efforless Everyday Cookies!
