cathyid, I have this old sugar cookie recipe. If rolled thickly and handled carefully, it makes soft cookies, but can be rolled more thinly and baked a couple of minutes longer for crispy cookies. They do spread, though, so you won't get nicely sharp edges on things like trees or stars.

Sugar Cookies

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon Vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Cream sugar, butter, vanilla and salt. Add eggs and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-1/2-in. cookie cutter; place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375ð for 7-8 minutes or until light golden brown. Decorate if desired. Yield: 6 dozen.

Annie

Is there anything else you remember about the recipe or the ingredients, even method of decorating. Sometimes those details will provide a cue to a particular source, like Betty Crocker or Farm Journal.

50 years ago was 1960, so the options are a bit more limited and odds are good something close or even the exact recipe can be found, though sad to say even with the exact recipe things don't always taste the way we remember.

Carol

Here is my recipes. It's from my mom's cookbook from the 60's. Sorry, I don't know the name as the cover is missing.
3/4 cup butter
2/3 sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla then dry ing.
Chill

The Land O' Lakes website has some recipes. This one sounds like the simple sort of sugar cookie we used to make when I was a kid.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blue Ribbon Sugar Cookies

Readinglady, I thought it was from a Farm Journal, but didn't find it. It isn't even the taste as much as needing something that can stand a little extra handling, because with the little ones, re-rolling is the norm. LOL I have time to try some before the big day. I always mix them the day before, and then I can test bake a few. One thing I do remember is that it had about 5 cups of flour, but I think maybe she just doubled the recipe. Thank you all for your help.

cathyid, I have a couple of Farm Journal Cookbooks. Well, maybe more than a couple. I'll look in them.

Annie

I think this is it. Got this from my mom about 30 years ago. It is a very forgiving dough and makes lots of cookies.

Sugar Cookies
1 and 1/4 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
5 to 6 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. Stir dry ingredients together using the smaller amount of flour. Add to egg mix alternately with milk. If dough is sticky, add flour to handle. Roll 1/4 inch thick on well floured board or cloth and cut as desired. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets 8 minutes at 375 degrees.

Sometimes I add vanilla. You can also add spices. I have not tried rolling the dough thinner than 1/4 inch. The cookie is nicely firm and not too sweet which is good for adding frosting.

I am not new to this board, but post very infrequently. I always find it a good read and get great ideas here. Enjoy the holidays!