Gram Opal’s Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• Icing:
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon hot water, or as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 24 whole pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.

Sift flour, baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon salt together in a bowl.

Beat 1 cup butter, white sugar, and egg in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour mixture, vanilla extract, and lemon extract to butter mixture; stir until dough is well blended. Roll cookie dough into walnut-size balls and place 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Press each ball down with the bottom of a glass to flatten slightly.

Bake in the preheated oven until baked through, 6 to 7 minutes. Cool.

Stir confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, hot water, and vanilla together in a bowl until sugar is completely dissolved and icing is smooth. Spread icing on cooled cookies and top each cookie with a pecan.