Easy recipe: Easter sugar cookies

Easter sugar cookies (Photo: iStock)

Happy Easter! What a wonderful time of bright colours, joyful celebrations and, of course, delicious treats.

One delightful tradition that never fails to bring a smile to the face of young and old alike is Easter sugar cookies.

Not only are these cookies beautiful to look at with their pastel colours and whimsical shapes, they also offer the perfect balance of sweetness and nostalgia.

Whether you're planning a festive get-together or simply looking for a fun baking project to enjoy with family and friends, this Easter sugar cookie recipe is sure to become a beloved tradition in your household.

So, get your apron on, preheat the oven and let's create some Easter magic!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• One teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• One cup of unsalted butter softened
• One cup of granulated sugar
• One large egg
• Two teaspoons of vanilla extract
• Assorted food colouring (gel or liquid)
• Sprinkles or coloured sugar for decorating

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 175C. Line baking trays with greaseproof paper or silicone baking mats. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, beating until smooth. Take care not to overmix.

Divide the dough into smaller portions depending on how many colours you'd like to use. Add the food colouring to each portion and knead until the colour is evenly distributed. For pastel colours, use just a few drops of food colouring.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each coloured portion of dough to about 1/4 inch thick.

Use Easter cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the rolled-out dough. Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking trays, leaving a little space between each cookie.

Decorate the cookies with sprinkles or coloured sugar, pressing them lightly into the dough. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown.

Leave the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cooled, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy!