These delicious cutouts bake up tender and rich, with lots of flavor from the addition of cream cheese. These are so good they have been the sole sugar cookie cutouts in my recipe file for years.
Ingredients
2 cups butter, softened
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
4½ cups all-purpose flour
3½ cups confectioners' sugar, divided
3 tbsp butter, softened
1 tbsp shortening
½ tsp vanilla extract
3 to 4 tbsp milk, divided
Food coloring, if desired
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla; mix well.
Gradually mix in the flour. Cover and chill for 2 hours or until firm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Roll dough out on a floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into shapes; place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until set (but not browned). Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, combine 1½ cups sugar, butter, shortening, vanilla and 3 tablespoons milk in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth. Gradually add remaining sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add enough remaining milk and food coloring until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cookies.
To store cookies, layer the cookies between parchment paper in a tin or sealable container. These can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen.
Recipe by Laura's Cozy Kitchen at https://www.laurascozykitchen.com/white-velvet-cutouts/