This recipe came from my mother’s recipe file. It is a Pennsylvania Dutch cookie recipe. When my mother was alive, I made these cookies with her every Christmas. I would always put a ton of the colored sugar on the cookies and my mother would have to tell me, about a dozen times, to lighten up on the sugar. I have made these cookies with my grandson and he does the exact same thing. I let him add lots of sugar, knowing this is what makes it so much fun for a kid to help out.
1/2 pound butter (2 sticks) softened, not melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
Mix in a mixer, these two items then add in
3 eggs – mix a few seconds
4 cups flour – add slowly
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
This makes a very heavy dough. Separate into 3 segments and wrap each segment in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Roll each dough segment on a floured surface (waxed paper works) to about 1/8” thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters, place shapes on an ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with egg white and sprinkle colored sugar on cookies.
Cook for 7 to 8 minutes at 375o