Cookie of the Month: Lemon Sugar 'Staches

                                            
Along with all of the ‘newness’ of my blog, I’m adding a new feature: it’s the cookie of the month! Every month I’ll come up with a new & delicious cookie that fits for the time of year. Right now it’s mid September and everyone is feeling ready for fall. It has been quite a miserable summer here in Atlanta with record breaking heats all season long. I know I’m ready for a chill in the air and for the leaves to start changing colors, as well as preparing some of my favorite fall time dishes. But before we ring in the first day of Autumn on September 22^nd, I’m going to give one last hoo-rah to the end of summer with a simple sugar cookie iced with lemon buttercream and sweet coconut flakes. This is a light, and yummy cookie perfect for those long summer nights, and those that aren’t quite ready to let go of the warm weather and flowy summer dresses. But it’s so good, it can certainly be enjoyed all year long.

Sugar Cookies:
3 cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter-softened
1 ½ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

In a large bowl combine first 3 ingredients. In a mixing bowl beat the butter and sugar on high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low and beat in eggs and vanilla until blended. Next add dry mixture until blended while occasionally scraping bowl. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces and wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and roll out one piece of the dough on a floured surface until ¼ inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutters and place on cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Repeat with other piece of dough. Note: keep cookies refrigerated until able to bake. This will help them hold there shape while baking. Cool and decorate with Lemon Buttercream.

 

 Lemon Buttercream Icing:
2 sticks butter-softened
4 cups confectioners sugar
¼ cup milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of one lemon
Juice of one lemon
Yellow food coloring (as much as desired)

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and beat on medium speed until fluffy. Ice cooled sugar cookies and dip in sweetened coconut or sparkly black sprinkles. You can also leave some plain for blonde mustaches!