Almond Sugar Cookies

My sweet friend Sandi made these cookies as refreshments for a Valentine's program we were working on together at church. I fell in love! The next week I nicely begged her to make me some, or share her recipe with me. The dough is simple, and the almond extract makes them really special.

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream the butter, sugar and almond extact. Mix in the eggs. Next, add the dry ingredients. Roll out dough~ thicker is better because the dough is so soft. Roll out between parchment paper with a little flour. This seems to work the best. Cut shapes and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 7~10 minutes. The cookies should be light.

*This dough expands a little when it is baking. I have the best luck with circle shapes, as the cut out shapes tend to loose their shape.

Butter Cream Frosting~

1/2 cube butter, softened
3 1/2 to 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Cream the butter, add the powdered sugar then the almond extract. If the consistency is too thick add some milk (too much almond extract would make the cookies too strong). The recipe called for a thick consistency. I prefer the frosting a little thin almost like a glaze.