Shaped Sugar Cookies

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Teddy's first ornament :)

So I've been saving the best Christmas post for last. I hope you'll be able to use these for your Christmas cookie exchange next year. I must say that this is probably the recipe I'm most proud of this holiday season! The cookies turned out not only yummy but also beautiful!! I had never made royal icing before and was a bit nervous...I can assuredly tell you that you have nothing to be apprehensive about. It's super easy to mix up and you can spend the rest of the night decorating away!! 

SUGAR COOKIES with ROYAL ICING
What you need for the cookies:
2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoon milk
Food coloring
Cookie cutters or Christmas Shapes Cookie Pan (mine is by Wilton)

To make the cookies:

1. Start by whisking together the flour, salt, and baking powder.

2. Then, blend together the butter and sugar, until light and fluffy (about 4-5 minutes).

3. Mix in egg, vanilla, and milk.

4. Turn the mixer to low and add the flour mixture in. Mix until blended, being careful not to over-mix.

5. If you wish to color your dough, split it in half in two separate bowls. Add food coloring and mix it in (I used my hand blender for a few seconds to make it evenly colored). 
6. Wrap in plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for at least an hour.

7. Once the dough is chilled, you’re ready to roll it out or use your Christmas shapes pan. If rolling, do so on a floured surface; roll the dough to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into shapes.
8. If you using the shapes pan, take a small amount of dough and push it into the shape until half full and filling all crevices.

9. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees, until lightly golden.
10. As a quick tip, to remove cookies from the shapes pan, I let them cool about 4-5 minutes. Then I used a small, metal spreader to loosen the cookie from the side of the pan. They popped right out! This recipe made about 48 cookies.

Here I am loosening the sides of each cookie.

What you need for the royal icing: 

3/4 cup warm water

5 T meringue powder

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

2.25lbs powdered sugar 
Food coloring 

*As a note, this recipe made about double what I needed...feel free to cut it in half!

To make the royal icing:

1. Mix water with meringue powder and whisk for about 30 seconds.

2. Add cream of tartar and whisk again.

3. Add sugar until you've reached desired consistency.

4. Split icing into several bowls and color to your liking.

Now is the fun part- Decorate!!

ENJOY and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pin It