Some Sundays are productive. Some are relaxing. And some are apparently meant for turning an empty house into a full-blown cookie factory. I spent the afternoon rolling, cutting, and baking with my favorite cookie cutters—the kind that actually cut clean and don’t bend halfway through.

With no one home to distract me (or steal dough), I spent the afternoon making my famous cut-out cookies. “Famous” might be a stretch, but in my defense, they disappear fast. The recipe itself isn’t technically mine—it belongs to my ex-mother-in-law—so full credit where credit is due. If we’re keeping score, she nailed this one.

Normally, cookie baking is a team sport around here. There’s rolling, cutting, decorating, and plenty of “quality control.” This time, it was a solo operation. Just me, a rolling pin, and a growing appreciation for the invention of icing.

I’ll admit it—I didn’t decorate all of them. Some cookies were left gloriously plain and destined for thick layers of icing, which is honestly the best way to eat them anyway. No regrets.

So if you’re in the mood for a tried-and-true sugar cookie that holds its shape and icing that’s worth licking the bowl for, you’re in the right place.

So, without further ado, here it is:
The Best Cut-Out Cookies and the Best Icing (Period).

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no additional cost to you. I only share things I actually use and love.

The Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter (melted or softened)
• 3 eggs

Mix until creamy.

Add:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda

Slowly add:

• 7 cups of flour
  (Yes, seven. At this point they might qualify as flour cookies.)

Roll the dough out, cut with cookie cutters, bake… and try not to eat half of them before they cool. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

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The Icing

(The real star of the show)

This icing is not fancy. It’s not trendy. It is magical.

Step 1:
Cook together:

• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup flour

Stir constantly until thick. Do not walk away. Do not answer the phone. Burning this is a tragedy. Let it cool completely.

Step 2:
In a mixer, cream:

• ¾ cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Add the cooled cooked mixture and mix for 15 minutes. Yes, fifteen. This is where patience turns into perfection.

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Slather it on thick.
Skip decorating if you want.
Eat one standing at the counter “just to test it.”

Sunday well spent. 🍪💗