Ingredients
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2 cups butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar (do not sift)
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar (critical, do NOT omit)
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/4 cups flour (not sifted)
1/2 cup white sugar (in a small bowl, may add colored sugars for holidays)
Preparation
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Do not preheat oven yet - dough must chill before baking.
Melt butter.
Add sugars and mix.
Let cool to room temperature.
Mix in the eggs, one at a time.
Add vanilla, lemon zest, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
Mix well.
Add flour in increments, mixing after each addition.
Chill dough for at least one hour (overnight is fine).
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees, rack in middle of oven.
Use hands to roll dough in walnut-sized balls.
Roll dough balls in a bowl of white sugar.
Place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
Flatten dough balls with a greased spatula.
Bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes (They should have a tine of gold on the top).
Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a rack to finish cooling.
Cookies can be decorated with frosting piped from a pastry bag for special occasions - or left just as they are.
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