Halloween Sugar Cookies

Step 1

Combine flour, salt & baking powder in a bowl, mix and set aside.

Step 2

In another large mixer bowl, cream together the softened butter & sugar.

Step 3

Once smooth, add the eggs & vanilla and beat well.

Step 4

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time. Mix until the dough is smooth and flour is fully incorporated.

Step 5

Separate your dough into two equal parts.

Step 6

Color one of the portions of dough orange, and one black. Use the mixer to beat the color into the dough until you have reached the desired shade of each color. Be sure to rinse out the bowl and the beater inbetween the colors so that you don't cross the colors and end up with something other than the desired color.

Step 7

Once the dough is tinted to the desired color - form it into a ball, then flatten it into a patty and then reshape the edges to form a rectangle.

Step 8

Wrap each flattened rectangle in plastic, and allow the dough to firm up in the refrigerator for about an hour or two.

Step 9

Roll out each ball of dough to about ⅛ – ¼" thick, and stack them on top of the other (I did orange on the bottom, then black).

Step 10

Trim the edges with a pizza cutter so you have nice, straight edges.

Step 11

If desired – Pour some sprinkles into your hand & brush the outside of the dough with a bit of water and then press the sprinkles into the outside of the dough log.

Step 12

Roll the dough into a log, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Step 13

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 14

Cut the log of dough into ¼ – ½" thick cookies and place the rounds on a parchment lined baking sheet – approx 2 inches apart. The thinner the blade used to slice them, the better. A thick blade will tend to squish the dough.

Step 15

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until no longer shiny on top.