Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 Room temperature butter

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

3 TBS Cream Cheese (yes cream cheese, trust me on this! I have tried so many recipes and found this one to be the best)

Cream together until all smooth and not grainy. (About 5 minutes)

1 Egg

1 Egg Yolk

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp Almond Extract (optional) you can use other flavors as well.

mix well

sift in these ingredients

1 tsp Salt

3 1/2 Cups of flour

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp Cream of tartar

It's very important to fold in the dry ingredients and not beat them together. Put the dough in the fridge covered in saran wrap for at least 30 minutes before rolling and cutting into shapes, and then put back in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before baking in the oven at 350*F for 15-20 minutes and let it completely cool before icing.

If you want to ice them with royal icing use:

4 Cups of powdered sugar

1/4 egg whites (pasteurized) you can purchase this in a grocery store.

1/2 tsp Salt

little bit of water (if needed later)

1 tsp flavored extract (optional)

(if your icing starts to crust on top, that's when you'll add a tsp of water and mix)