Ingredients

• 2 cups - all - purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp - salt
• 1/2 tsp - baking powder
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) plus 2 tbsp - unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup - sugar
• 1 - large egg
• 1 - large egg yolk
• 1 tsp - vanilla extract
• Zest of one lemon and 1/2 an orange
• 1/2 tsp each - cinnamon, ginger powder and cardamom
• 1/2 cup - cinnamon sugar for dusting (mix cinnamon powder with granulated sugar)

How to Make Spiced Sugar Cookies

• Mix the zest along with sugar and rub until you get an aroma.
• Add this to the butter and, using a hand mixer, blend until creamy and smooth.
• Beat it further with eggs and spices along with vanilla until well blended.
• Slowly add the flour to this butter-sugar mixture, making sure to beat it softly.
• It is better to use a rubber spatula at this point to mix it well.
• The dough will be very soft and smooth.
• Divide the dough into two and wrap them in a plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate them for at least 2 hours.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar on the board and roll the dough on it.
• Roll to the desired thinness.
• Cut out shapes of your choice with the help of cookie cutters.
• Place them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
• Bake them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 9-15 minutes depending on the level of softness/crispiness required.
• The cookies will not colour much.
• Once out from the oven, keep them aside for 2 minutes and sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar.
• You can simply leave them as it is or use icing/coloured sugar to further decorate them.
• Recipe Courtesy: http://chefinyou.com/