Recipe of the Week: Clover Cookies

Hello everybody. I'm proud to say that this is my 100th post! (yea!) It's a small step for some, but a pretty big step and a great beginning for me. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you guys will continue to come back and read all my future posts.

Now it's time for the recipe of the week. This week's featured recipe is from Martha Stewart. On her website you will find not only the recipe but a video showing you how to make the cookies. Even if you have written instructions it's always a plus to have a visual.

These Clover Cookies are cute, sweet, and fun! And you don't have to be an artist to decorate them! The recipe is for St. Patrick's Day (or spring, in general), but it is yet another recipe that can be applied to any holiday. I wish I had this recipe back around Christmas or Valentine's Day! Enjoy and Good Luck!

Makes 50
4 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Green sanding sugar

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl; set aside. Combine butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment; cream on high speed until fluffy. Beat in eggs

Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two additions, mixing until well combined. Mix in vanilla. Divide dough in half, and cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out 1 piece of dough on a lightly floured work surface 1/8 inch thick. With a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut out 25 rounds. Working with 1 round at a time, place clover stencil on top; sprinkle surface with sanding sugar.

Arrange rounds on parchment- or nonstick baking mat-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes, or until ready to bake. Repeat process with remaining dough.

Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges just start to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.