Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon almond extract or clear vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Frosting
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar
- 1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon almond extract or clear vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Cookie Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly grease two cookie sheets to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together 1 1/4 cups white sugar and 1 cup butter until light and fluffy. This forms the base for your cookie dough.
- Add Egg Yolks and Extract: Beat in the 3 egg yolks and 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract into your creamed mixture for flavor and richness.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar. The dough will be firm and denser than typical cookie dough; this consistency is expected.
- Shape and Bake Cookies: Form dough into walnut-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared cookie sheets without flattening them. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes until the tops look cracked and are beginning to turn color.
- Make Frosting: In a large bowl, cream 4 cups confectioner's sugar with 1/2 cup room temperature butter until smooth. Gradually mix in 5 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract using an electric mixer. Continue mixing about 5 minutes until the frosting is smooth and stiff. Add food coloring if desired.
- Frost Cookies: Once cookies have cooled completely, spread or pipe the frosting on top as desired.
Notes
- The dough will be firm rather than soft like typical cookie dough—this is expected and necessary for proper texture.
- Don't flatten the dough balls before baking; they will spread adequately in the oven.
- Frost cookies after they cool completely to prevent melting or sliding.
- Use almond or clear vanilla extract depending on flavor preference.
- You can optionally add food coloring to the frosting for decorative variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
