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Bernard’s sugar cookies

By Bernard Shondell on December 1st, 2023
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Hallmark's cookie expert Bernard Shondell shares his recipe for a sugar cookie dough that delivers on taste as well as versatility. Discover what special ingredients go into his sugar cookies (like cream cheese) and get great baking tips that increase the odds for producing golden delicious masterpieces each time you open the oven door.

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Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¼ cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt

Directions

  1. Cream together butter, shortening, sugar and cream cheese.
  2. Add egg and both extracts to butter mixture until well incorporated.
  3. Combine last 3 ingredients, and then slowly add them to the wet mixture. Mix until well incorporated.
  4. Chill dough at least 1 hour, or overnight.
  5. Bake at 350° for 8 to 12 minutes. Remove at first indication of edges turning brown.
Bernard's Baking Tips

  • I put my cookie dough into 1-gallon zip-top plastic bags to chill.
  • Use silver-coloured baking sheets without edges.
  • Decorating the baked cookies the next day is ideal—if not, try to wait at least a few hours after they’ve come out of the oven.
  • Meringue powder is available at cake decorating stores and hobby and craft stores. But you can substitute fresh egg whites if you like—just use equal amounts of egg whites and water.

Learn how to turn your sugar cookies into the sweet faces of friends, family and pets.

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Bernard Shondell

Hometown: Roeland Park, Kansas
Artistic style: Sweet & Simple
Inspiration: Flour, sugar, & glitter
Happy place: In any bakery where I can experience what other bakers create.
Favourite project or work of art: Wedding cakes - I love the transitory nature of artistry & precision that is made to be eaten.