Every year, my mom and I make sugar cookies. We try to outdo ourselves every year. The last time we made sugar cookies, they were these adorable peanut butter and jelly shaped ones. This year for Christmas we decided on light bulbs. These ones were way easier to make than most of the ones we attempt. We also got to make a ton of different colors which was super fun. Here's the recipe in case you're interested in making these yourself -- they're SO delish!
Buttery Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients:
8 ounces (2 sticks) butter at room temperature *
2 cups cake flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
*If you don’t have cake flour, you can make it by substituting 2 tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch for each cup in the recipe.
Directions:
Combine all ingredients using your hands until they are blended to a soft pliable dough. Roll out to 3/8″ to 1/2″ and cut out with your favorite cookie cutters.
Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely before icing.
Royal Icing
Ingredients:
1 pound powdered sugar
5 tablespoons meringue powder
Directions:
Put sugar and meringue powder in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add a scant 1/2 cup of water, beat on low until thick and fluffy (7-8 minutes). You can also add a 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the water if you prefer.
Use icing immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 days. Stir icing before using.
-Use the icing as is for gluing cookies together if desired
-Add 1 teaspoon water and combine to outline the cookies
-Add an additional teaspoon water and combine for writing
-Add 1 more additional teaspoon water and combine for icing the cookies (flow)
Tips:
-Make sure the icing will lay flat on your cookie by pulling a spoonful out of the container and dripping back in. It should be thick and surface of the icing should smooth back out.
-Use icing squeeze bottles to outline the cookies and ice them.
-To keep the squeeze bottles from getting hard icing, lean them with the tips down in a container with wet paper towel in the bottom.
ALWAYS keep your containers covered…this stuff turns into cement pretty fast!
I hope you enjoyed this recipe and it got you into the holiday spirit a little more than you already were!
xoxo,
Sarah