Soft Sugar Cookies with Butter Frosting

Noelle brought these cookies home about a year ago from a friend's house and I had to call and get the recipe right away. I really like how soft these are. They aren't too sweet, and the frosting is so good...it's butter, how could it not be good! We make these for just about every holiday as a fun activity for the kids. This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Soft Sugar Cookies
Cream Together:
1 cup margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Sift and Add:
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder

Add: 1/2 cup sour cream

Dough will be very sticky. Knead on floured counter, adding 1-2 cups more flour until not sticky.
Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 375. Roll out, cut into shapes, bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes.


Butter Frosting
(frosts about 3 dozen cookies)

1/3 cup butter
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a mixing bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar. Beat in milk and vanilla. Slowly beat in the remaining powdered sugar. Add more milk if needed to reach spreading consistency. Add food coloring if desired.

Frosted Banana Bars

I made these yesterday for a friend's birthday and thought it was a great new way to use up some ripe bananas! This recipe comes from Allrecipes. I've never seen my kids squeal for another piece of anything quite so frantically! Well, Gracie did that the first time she had jello - but it was her first real taste of sugar and she couldn't get enough!...ah, but I digress. The point is, they couldn't get enough!

I used up the remainder of the Cream Cheese Frosting I made for the cinnamon rolls a few days ago. This was quick to whip together - even with my best little man "helping!"

Frosted Banana Bars

½ cup butter, softened

1 ½ cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (I used four ripe bananas)

Frosting (use store-bought cream cheese frosting or make your own from the version below)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a jellyroll pan.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; stir into the batter.

Finally, mix in the mashed banana.

Spread evenly into the prepared pan(s). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow bars to cool completely (or as long as you can stand it!) before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting ( from My Kitchen Cafe)

8 ounces cream cheese

½ cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups confectioner’s sugar

2-3 tablespoons milk

Combine butter and cream cheese and mix well, then add vanilla and sugar and mix again, then add milk for desired consistency.

Basic Sweet Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

I actually got up at 5:30 this morning to make these for Ian to take to work for his team. I love this recipe and the cream cheese frosting makes these cinnamon rolls
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!




It took me 2 hours from start to drool (wish I could eat them!).




Basic Sweet Rolls (from Bosch)



1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup milk
1/2 pound butter or margarine
6 cups flour
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. SAF yeast (heaping)
aprox. half stick of butter or margarine, melted
brown sugar
cinnamon
Frosting (see below)


In small saucepan, melt butter with milk and water over low heat. Put into mixing bowl and add 4 cups flour, eggs, sugar and salt. Mix well. Add 2 cups flour and yeast. Mix well. Scrape down sides of bowl and then mix in more flour until sides of the bowl come clean.


Knead for 3-4 minutes.Place dough in greased bowl and let raise until doubled (about 30-40 minutes).


Punch down and turn out onto oiled counter. Roll out 3/4 inch thick (about 12"x24"), spread with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.


Start at longer edge and roll. Cut into 24 rolls and place in 2 9x13 pans (greased).

Let rise for additional 30 minutes and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.





Cream Cheese Frosting ( from My Kitchen Cafe)



8 ounces cream cheese
½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk

Combine butter and cream cheese and mix well, then add vanilla and sugar and mix again, then add milk for desired consistency.