Frosted Sugar-'n'-spice Cookies

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 5 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups powdered sugar, divided
• 4 tablespoons milk, divided

Recipe

• 1 stir together the first 6 ingredients in a bowl.
• 2 beat butter and next 3 ingredients at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy. add cream cheese, orange zest, and vanilla; beat until well blended. gradually add flour mixture, beat at low speed until blended.
• 3 divide dough in half, shaping into 2 flattened disks. cover with plastic wrap and chill 2-24 hours.
• 4 preheat oven to 350 degrees. place one dough disk on a floured surface. roll into 1/4 inch thickness; cut with 4-inch star shaped cutter (or your choice of cutter). place 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. repeat procedure with remaining dough.
• 5 bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or just until edges are lightly browned. cool on baking sheets 3 minutes. transfer to a wire rack, and let cool 30 minutes or until completely cool.
• 6 to make the frosting: beat 1/4 cup butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons milk at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and milk.
• 7 spread cookies with a thin layer of frosting and top with sprinkles.