Cardamom Cane-Sugar Cutouts

Makes 3 to 4 dozen sugar cookies

Ingredients

• Cookies:
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup natural (raw) cane sugar*
• 2 large egg yolks
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 to 4 Tbsp. pre-ground cardamom or 2 to 3 Tbsp. freshly ground cardamom seed**
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. lemon or orange zest (about 1 large lemon or small orange), freshly grated, optional
• Decorating Icing:
• 6 Tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• Pinch salt
• 3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 Tbsp. lime, orange or lemon juice, at room temperature
• Additional colored sanding sugar, optional, for decorating
• *Use large, granular-type cane sugars; in particular, large crystal Turbinado sugar or Demerara..
• **Cardamom can be found in the spice section of most grocery stores.

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine butter and sugar; cream together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks. Add flour, cardamom, salt and zest; blend until dough is evenly mixed. Adjust cardamom to taste.
2. Divide dough in four balls on sheets of plastic wrap, and flatten each into a disk. Wrap tightly, and chill for at least 1 hr. or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or butter them.
4. Take 1 ball of dough from refrigerator. (Keep remaining dough chilled.) On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/8- to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut into shapes and place on prepared baking sheets.
5. Bake until bottoms just begin to brown, 8 to 10 min. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Continue to roll, cut and bake remaining dough.
6. For the icing, combine butter, sugar, salt and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Beat at low speed, gradually adding juice to reach desired consistency. Decorate completely cooled cookies as desired.

Submitted 10/19/06.
Source: American Dairy Farmers
Submitted By: b smith

Cardamom Cane-Sugar Cutouts