 |
| you can get that swirly effect by making lines with your icing then dragging a toothpick through (works best when not too thick) |
Don't feel bad if it takes you a really long time to decorate your cookies, it took me three hours and I'm supposed to be a trained professional (that does include making the icing, but not baking the cookies, I did that the day before).
ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES
Yield: approx. 5 dozen (depending on size of cutters) + 3 cups icing
Cookies:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Icing:
1 lb. confectioners’ sugar
4 teaspoons powdered egg whites (available in most grocery stores in the baking aisle)
1/3 cup water (plus more as needed)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract
food coloring (optional)
Cookies:
1.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar
until smooth. Beat in eggs and extract. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt.
2.
Divide dough into 4 balls and flatten into
disks. Cover with plastic wrap and chill dough for at least 1 hour (or
overnight).
3.
Preheat oven to 400° F.
4.
Roll out dough on floured surface, ¼- to ½-inch
thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place cookies 1-inch apart on
ungreased or parchment-linedcookie sheets.
5.
Bake 6 - 8 minutes, until barely lightly golden
at the edges. Cool completely before decorating.
Icing:
1. Beat together all ingredients (except food coloring) in a large bowl with an electric mixer at moderate speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and beat icing, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, until it holds stiff peaks, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 4 to 5 minutes with a handheld.
2. Beat in food coloring (if using). Add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, to thin to desired consistency (especially if you plan to spread, rather than pipe, the icing).
cookie recipe slightly adapted from allrecipes.com
 |
| cut dough before baking |
 |
| baked dough (they shouldn't have much color) |
 |
| stiff peaks |
 |
| white icing before coloring (I made a double batch because I was making so many colors and didn't want to run out in the middle) |
 |
| colored icing (I add a little water to each until I get the consistency I want) Once they go in the squeeze bottles I get lazy; if the consistency isn't quite right I just deal with it instead of fixing it (these aren't exactly for the Queen of England) |
 |
| I use these awesome squeeze bottles for decorating...they are way less messy than pastry bags (especially with a wee one getting into the action). |
 |
| If you do buy the squeeze bottles, you might want to buy extra round tips (you'll probably use those the most for cookie decorating). I keep my tips and other small stuff in a tackle box. |
 |
| ready for the school party, just waiting to fulfill their destiny and make all the kids hyper (even if you think they're all dry, wait a good long time before you pack them up --unfortunately one of my gingerbread men didn't make it, R.I.P.)
These cookies were made possible by the selfless actions of my husband Chuck, who braved Chuck E. Cheese in order to occupy my daughter and give me a head start. By the time they got home, I had enough done for her whole class and it was her turn to play!
UPDATE
I decorated some more cookies just a few days later,
while visiting my in-laws for Christmas. 
My mother-in-law Judie, a wonderful cook by the way, decorated these cookies.
She's pretty handy with a squeeze bottle (plus she baked the cookies). |
4 comments:
There isn't really much to say here other than the obvious. You are a goddess.
A goddess! Oh puhlease (you need to get out more sister)!
First of all - your cookies are so beautiful and fun! But I really love the squeeze bottles and the tackle box idea. I'll have to get one for all those pesky little things that get lost all the time. :)
I used this recipe, baking with my two granddaughters. easy to roll out. the flavor of the cookies were fabulous. The girls love them! Incredible, and wonderful ideas on squeeze bottles and tackle box.
Post a Comment