In my knowledgeable dessert opinion, sure shapes of cut-out sugar cookies are extra enjoyable to embellish than others. Snowflake Cookies prime the record as a result of every one will be utterly distinctive! If you happen to’re baking with youngsters, these straightforward adorned snowflake cookies are the way in which to go!
As soon as my daughter named her elf on the shelf ‘Snowflake,’ I knew these cookies needed to occur. Fortunately, they’re really easy to make, and youngsters love adorning them!
This recipe can be my contribution to The Sweetest Season, which is the annual vacation cookie week that goals to lift funds for Cookies for Children’ Most cancers. Right here is the fundraising web page in the event you wish to donate.
You can also make the snowflake cookies tremendous fancy and ornate, or you possibly can merely make strains with a white frosting. Edible glitter or tiny sprinkles can gown up even essentially the most fundamental designs.
This recipe is predicated on my common Christmas Sugar Cookie Minimize-Outs, and you’ll technically use it for any form. I make a a lot larger batch after I host my annual cookie adorning social gathering. (Do not miss my make-ahead information to The right way to Host a Cookie Adorning Celebration if you wish to be like me!)
The Substances
- Butter. One stick, 4 ounces, of unsalted butter that has been softened at room temperature
- Sugar. Common, white granulated sugar, one-half cup.
- Vanilla Extract. Actual vanilla provides sugar cookies their greatest taste! This snowflake cookies recipe makes use of 1 full teaspoon of vanilla, regardless that it solely makes 16 cookies.
- Almond Extract. Since these are Christmas Cookies, we are going to add a small splash of almond extract. It is completely non-obligatory (omit if you do not have it), but it surely brings one thing particular to vacation treats.
- Eggs. The cookies want two egg yolks, and the frosting will use the remaining two egg whites. Separate your eggs utilizing this for a clear separation. For the reason that frosting makes use of uncooked eggs, use pasteurized eggs in the event you’re involved about that.
- Flour. Only one and a half cups of all-purpose flour that you just fluff, scoop and degree with a knife to measure.
- Baking Powder. We solely want baking powder for the rise and unfold within the oven; no baking soda right here.
- Powdered Sugar. For the white royal icing, use powdered sugar that has been sifted.
- Lemon Juice. One tablespoon of lemon juice from 1-2 recent lemons. That is the liquid for the royal icing, and in addition cures the egg whites, making them secure to devour. Nevertheless, you possibly can at all times buy pasteurized eggs for baking.
- Cookie Adorning Gadgets. The kind of cookie adorning gadgets you want varies in keeping with your style. You’ll be able to dye the frosting a reasonably mild blue with meals gel. You should use mini snowflake sprinkles, edible glitter, fairly silver balls, or anything you want to embellish these snowflake cookies.
The Directions
Watch how simply they arrive collectively, and plus, the dough doesn’t require any chill time earlier than baking! Sure, the snowflake cookies actually do maintain their form within the oven!
First, preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit, and line a big cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Then, mix the softened butter and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl.
Use an electrical mixer to beat the butter and sugar till mild and fluffy. Then, add the 2 eggs yolks (don’t add the egg whites!) and the vanilla and almond extracts. Beat once more simply to mix.
Sprinkle the flour, baking powder and salt evenly over the dough within the bowl. Beat utilizing the electrical mixer simply till the dough comes collectively. Watch out to not over-mix.
Mud a clear counter prime with flour, and dump half of the dough out onto it. Collect it right into a ball and press it right into a ½” thick spherical disk. Flour your rolling pin, then roll out the dough out sufficiently big to chop out about 8-9 snowflakes.
Utilizing a snowflake cookie cutter, lower out 8-9 shapes. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Collect the dough scraps and re-roll to chop out 8-9 extra shapes and place them on the cookie sheet. You must get roughly 16 cookies, relying on the scale of your cutter.
Bake the snowflake cookies on the ready baking sheet for about Sep 11 minutes, till the perimeters of the cookies are simply beginning to flip a light-weight golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet utterly earlier than trying to take away them in order that they don’t break.
As soon as the baked cookies have utterly cooled, it is time to adorn! Mix the leftover egg whites with the lemon juice and powdered sugar. Whisk it very properly in a bowl and use a piping bag or small plastic squeeze bottle to embellish the cookies nonetheless you want. Sprinkles and edible glitter are at all times welcome!
Storage/ Make-Forward Minimize-Out Cookies:
These cookies are nice saved at room temperature for at some point. After at some point, transfer them to the fridge due to the egg whites within the frosting. They may hold for five days within the fridge.
To make forward, the dough will be made forward and frozen for as much as 3 months. Defrost at room temperature till it is delicate sufficient to roll out and bake as directed. You can even freeze pre-cut cookies on baking sheets for as much as 3 months if tightly wrapped. Bake, however add a number of further minutes to the baking time. You’ll be able to freeze already baked cookies for as much as one month, if tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and saved in freezer-safe containers or luggage. Defrost at room temperature and adorn. It is best to make the frosting the day you propose to embellish the cookies.
FAQ: Snowflake Cookies
You’ll be able to merely hint the strains of the snowflake lower out and make a number of backwards hash marks to emulate a snowflake. Or, you are able to do a flood glaze, let it dry, after which pipe the snowflake sample on prime. It is your alternative! I occur to assume white snowflake cookies are the prettiest, however I’ve seen beautiful mild blue ones, too!
The reply is sophisticated and relies upon by yourself private consolation degree. You’ll be able to at all times bake with pasteurized egg whites and take away all threat of contamination. For me, I am proud of the lemon juice curing the egg whites and consuming cookies with royal frosting. Nevertheless, I refrigerate leftover cookies and devour inside 5 days. The very younger and really previous shouldn’t devour uncooked or undercooked eggs. In circumstances like that, use pasteurized eggs or omit the egg white and use a small splash of milk to make the frosting come collectively. With out egg whites, nonetheless, royal frosting will not set right into a agency stackable glaze. You can even use powdered egg whites, too!
Yield: 16
Snowflake Cookies
Straightforward adorn snowflake cookies for Christmas cookie trade! Recipe makes 16 cookies, however will be doubled.
Prep Time
half-hour
Prepare dinner Time
10 minutes
Complete Time
40 minutes
Substances
- 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 giant egg yolks (save the egg whites for the frosting!)
- 1 ½ cups flour, plus further for dusting
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon high-quality salt
For the royal icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 giant egg whites (leftover from the cookies)
- Sprinkles for adorning
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a big cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a big mixing bowl, add the butter and granulated sugar. Utilizing an electrical mixer on medium pace, beat the butter and sugar till mild and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and almond extracts and two egg yolks, and beat till mixed.
- Sprinkle the flour, baking powder and salt evenly over the bowl. Beat simply to mix.
- This dough doesn’t should be chilled earlier than rolling out! Mud a clear counter prime with flour, and dump half of the dough out onto it. Collect it right into a ball and press it right into a ½” thick spherical disk. Flour your rolling pin, then roll out the dough out sufficiently big to chop out about 8-9 snowflakes.
- Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Collect the dough scraps and mix with the remaining half of the dough. Roll once more to chop out 8-9 extra shapes and place them on the cookie sheet. You must get roughly 16 cookies, re-rolling scraps as essential.
- Bake for Sep 11 minutes, till the perimeters are simply beginning to flip a light-weight golden brown. Let cool utterly on the baking sheet earlier than trying to maneuver.
- Subsequent, make the royal icing: Mix the powdered sugar, lemon juice and egg whites in a bowl. Whisk slowly till it comes collectively and is easy.
- Switch the royal icing right into a piping bag, small plastic bag or small squeeze bottle. Enhance the cookies in keeping with your prefernce, and use further sprinkles as desired. Cookies hold for 1 day at room temeprature, and as much as 5 days within the fridge. See under for make-ahead directions.
Notes
Storage: These cookies are nice saved at room temperature for at some point. After at some point, transfer them to the fridge due to the egg whites within the frosting. They may hold for five days within the fridge.
Make-Forward: This dough will be made forward and frozen for as much as 3 months. Defrost at room temperature till it is delicate sufficient to roll out and bake as directed. You can even freeze pre-cut cookies on baking sheets for as much as 3 months if tightly wrapped. Bake, however add a number of further minutes to the baking time. You’ll be able to freeze already baked cookies for as much as one month, if tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and saved in freezer-safe containers or luggage. Defrost at room temperature and adorn. It is best to make the frosting the day you propose to embellish the cookies.
Diet Data:
Yield:
16
Serving Dimension:
1
Quantity Per Serving:
Energy: 144Complete Fats: 2gSaturated Fats: 1gTrans Fats: 0gUnsaturated Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 37mgSodium: 86mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 3g