The First Night of Hanukkah!

We started off a beautiful festival of lights this evening by making sugar cookies in the shape of menorahs, dreidels, and Stars of David, thanks to an enormous Hanukkah parcel sent by my mother-in-law...

I tracked down an astonishingly delicious recipe for sugar cookies-- via the tried-and-true-Martha-Stewart-- and I have to say, it's genuinely exceptional. They're chewy and flavorful, not too sweet and not too dry, which is unfortunately exactly the way I'd describe the majority of sugar cookies I've encountered since I was a kid.

Martha really nailed this one. I followed the recipe to a T, with only one exception... Because I'm currently living in someone else's Parisian apartment, I don't have access to my beloved kitchen-aid, an electric hand mixer, or sadly, even a whisk. (I know. I should just buy one. It's like € 4.00. Get off my back...) I improvised by using an archaic device that I think was a pastry knife, combined with a little spoon-and-fork action, and I was perfectly happy with the outcome. (So who says I need a whisk?!?)

Totally great.

Basic Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Assorted candies, sprinkles, or colored sugars, for decorating (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic; freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes, or place in a resealable plastic bag, and freeze up to 3 months (thaw in refrigerator overnight).
    WATCH: How to Cream Butter Properly
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove one dough disk; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out 1/8 inch thick between two sheets of floured parchment, dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. (If dough gets soft, chill 10 minutes.) Reroll scraps; cut shapes. Repeat with remaining dough.
3. Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Cool completely on wire racks. To ice cookies, spread with the back of a spoon. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes. Decorate as desired.

COOK'S NOTE

Use flour on utensils to keep dough from sticking: Dip the cookie cutters, and dust the spatula before transferring uncooked dough to a sheet. Rolling dough between two sheets of floured parchment will keep it from sticking to the rolling pin.