Description

These Delicious Fall Leaf Cut Out Cookies are perfect for cozy celebrations during the autumn season. Soft, buttery, and lightly spiced with nutmeg, these cookies are shaped into charming fall leaves to add a festive touch to your gatherings or holiday baking. The recipe provides a tender texture thanks to the cornstarch and a hint of warm vanilla, making them a delightful treat to enjoy or decorate with icing.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

1 cup butter, softened (can substitute with margarine)
1 cup sugar (increase by 1/4 to 1/2 cup for extra sweetness)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (preferably pure vanilla)
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornstarch (can reduce to 1/4 cup for a softer outcome)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional, to enhance autumn flavor)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the cookies evenly.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, sugar, and sea salt. Beat until the mixture is fluffy and light, which helps create a tender crumb.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract until the batter is creamy and well combined, ensuring the dough binds properly.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and nutmeg into the wet mixture. Mix until fully incorporated. If the dough feels too soft, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes to firm up.
Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness to prepare for cutting.
Cut Leaf Shapes: Use leaf-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the rolled dough, readying them for baking.
Bake: Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned, indicating they are perfectly baked.
Cool: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating with icing, enhancing their festive appearance.

Notes

For extra sweetness, increase sugar by 1/4 to 1/2 cup according to preference.
Refrigerate dough if too soft to make it easier to work with and maintain shape during baking.
Using pure vanilla extract will provide the best flavor.
Optional nutmeg adds a subtle warm spice suitable for fall but can be omitted if preferred.
Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent icing from melting.