{enjoy the holiday week! – and eat some cookies!}

hey gang.

i’m taking vacation this week – beginning wednesday. i am beyond ready for some time off, i just really hope i can easily make it through the next two days at work…

i wanted to share this recipe from last year, it was such a hit! it’s just a basic sugar cookie with a basic frosting and some fruit.  super festive though… and yummmmmmy!  i think i’m going to take the week off from blogging, as well… i just need to disconnect and get out in nature and rest and relax… i’ll be back next week.  i hope you enjoy the holiday and these cookies!! 🙂

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{from the archives}

this is not exactly up my typical healthy recipe alley – but if you’re going to go for it, GO FOR IT!

festive holiday sugar cookies…

i think they turned out pretty cute… oh, and delicious.

i was super scared at first to try my hand at baking, since it appeared in the past that i couldn’t even make brownies out of a box… but looking back, i’m pretty sure they were just really crappy brownies… in fact, i’m certain of it.  i believe they were just a lousy conventional brand that had most likely been sitting in my roommate’s cabinet for a long time and one night i just really  wanted something chocolate and it was the only thing in the house.  they turned out so horribly dry and hard, i haven’t tried to bake anything since…

which is a shame, because – apparently, i can bake… from scratch!

well – i mean, it’s not like i’m making anything too crazy.  sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting – a little hard to “screw up”, i agree.  but these are major strides, folks – HUGE, for a non-baking gal like me. 😉  

i found a super easy sugar cookie recipe online – most are the same, just depends on how many you want to make.  my batch yielded about 2 dozen cookies – i managed to get  30 because i made mine kind of small.

here are the ingredients :

for cookies :

– 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour

– 1/2 cup softened butter

– 3/4 cup sugar

– 1 small egg

– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

– 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

– pinch of salt {optional}

for cream cheese frosting :

– 1 package cream cheese {softened}

– 1 lemon

– more vanilla extract

– strawberries {or raspberries} and blueberries

preheat oven to 375 degrees.

start by blending your dry ingredients together – flour, baking powder, baking soda.  in a separate bowl, mix together your butter and sugar until creamy. now gradually stir in your egg and vanilla, then slowly mix in your dry ingredients. blend together well until it forms your dough.  i set mine in the fridge for just a little bit, but it wasn’t necessary – this actually formed the perfect pliable dough.

form into ping-pong size balls and place on an ungreased  baking sheet. when the oven is heated, pop them in for about 8-10 minutes.

meanwhile, whip together your softened cream cheese, the juice of a lemon, and vanilla extract to taste {start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more as you need} set this in the fridge for a moment while you chop up your berry toppings.

so pretty.

remove cookies from the oven when done and let them cool.

once ready, top them with the cream cheese frosting and berries…

and impress all your friends… or impress your cat. 

HAPPY 4th OF JULY WEEK{END} EVERYONE! 

Tags: 4th of july, audrey michelle, baking, cookies, cooking, easy, eating, festive, food, food photography, fun, holidays, recipes, simple, vacation