Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup almond paste, broken into pieces
• 2 cups unsalted butter, chopped and softened
• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

Beat egg yolks and almond paste together in a bowl using a mixer on medium speed until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add butter, sugar, and salt to almond paste mixture and beat until creamy, about 3 minutes; reduce speed to low and gradually beat in flour just until blended.

Divide dough into 4 pieces and flatten each into a disk on a lightly floured surface. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Place 1 dough piece on a lightly floured surface and roll into 1/4-inch thickness using a floured rolling pin. Cut dough into shapes using floured cookie cutters. Arrange cookies 1-inch apart on a large baking sheet. Form any remaining scraps into a disk and refrigerate.

Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.