Mary's Sugar Cookies

From the old Betty Crocker cookbook
1961, General Mills, Inc., McGraw-Hill Book Company

For Paintbrush Cooky variation, paint designs on cookies before baking with Egg Yolk Paint.

1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond flavoring
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in egg and flavorings. Blend dry ingredients. Stir in. Refrigerate 2 to 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half and roll out on lightly floured pastry cloth to 3/16" thick. Cut into shapes. Sprinkle with sugar. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 7 - 8 minutes or until delicately golden.
Makes 5 dozen 2 - 2 1/2" cookies.

Egg Yolk Paint:
Blend 1 egg yolk and 1/4 tsp. water. Divide among several small custard cups, depending on how many different colors you wish to use. Add food coloring to each dcup for desired color. Paint designs on cookies with small paintbrushes. Use a separate brush for each color.