I remember when I was young my mom had a wonderful recipe for sugar cookies; they were light, crispy, and melted in your mouth. I used to make these cookies when we went to visit our relatives in Canada, My cousin always looked forward to these cookies, he said they were his favorite. Many years ago I found out that I was gluten free and forgot about the sugar cookie recipe.  My sister was recently rummaging around my mom's old recipes and found the sugar cookie recipe for me. I have adapted it to a gluten free recipe, I think they turned out very well and taste just the way I remember. These are very delicate cookies and do not travel or ship well, but they make a great holiday cookie, they are good plain and do not requite any frosting.

Old fashioned Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup vegetable oil, canola works well

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

4 cups white rice flour

1 tsp cream of tarter

1 tsp salt

3 tsp xanthan gum

Preheat oven to 375, thoroughly cream oil, butter, and both sugars, add vanilla and eggs. Sift dry ingredients mix into sugar mixture. You may need to add extra flour, up to 1 cup, if the texture is too moist. Roll a teaspoon of soft dough into a ball and roll in granulated sugar, press down with bottom of glass to flatten slightly on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake about 12 min. remove from oven and let cool a couple of minutes then carefully lift each cookie to a cooling rack. These cookies are very delicate so do not disturb until cool.

This second recipe I found on a gluten free site and I do not have the web address but the author’s name is Liz and she adapted it from a Martha Stewart recipe. This is a great cookie if you want a frosted sugar cookie for the kids to decorate. The texture turns out perfect for frosting and stores well, my kids love these cookies, we make them for most every holiday, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. Since I have a big family we usually double this recipe.

Gluten Free Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter softened

3 oz. cream cheese

¾ cup sugar

1 egg

Pinch of salt

2 tsp. vanilla

½ almond extract, (optional) I did not use this

3 cups rice flour

1.      Cream butter and cream cheese together until fluffy; add sugar and cream well

2.      Add egg, salt, vanilla, and almond extract; mix well

3.      Add flour and mix until incorporated

4.      Chill dough for several hours or over night

5.      Roll dough into small balls with hands and press flat with fingers or bottom of glass. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 375 degrees just until edges begin to brown, usually about 12 minutes.

Frosting

            3 Cups powdered sugar

            1/3 cup butter

            1 tsp vanilla

            1-2 Tablespoons milk

Mix sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla and milk; beat until smooth. You may also add food coloring if you wish to give it that holiday look, decorate with sprinkles if you wish.

Disclaimer; these recipes are not low fat, if you are on a calorie restricted diet please use self controlJ These recipes are for those on gluten free diets.