Ugly Sweater Sugar Cookies
A good sugar cookie recipe and a collection of cookie cutters can take you through any occasion.
Snowflakes and mittens, flowers and ducks , baseballs and flags, autumn leaves and squirrels, Christmas trees and the Star of David.
Making and decorating sugar cookies can be a lengthy and messy process, especially if you do it with kids.
I can do something about the lengthy and messy process business--a sugar cookie dough you can make, roll out without a mess in batches, and even freeze.
But you're on your own with the kids. Chaos is just part of the whole experience.
When I came across these Ugly Sweater Cookies from Cookie Jar Bakery in Lee's Summit, Missouri, I thought Perfect!
They also have a way with traditional shapes, as in these Christmas trees. Great idea for a new twist on a classic theme.
Cookie Jar Bakery has also done Pumpkin Pie Slice Cookies and Turkey Leg Cookies for Thanksgiving.
What I'm leading up to is adding a little humor to some of your holiday baking.
Look for a sweater cookie cutter and a squeeze bottle or two or three (for outlining and filling in cookie decoration with royal icing), make up batches of sugar cookie dough and royal icing, put some holiday music on, and bake something that will make someone smile. Or chuckle. Or snort. You know who you are.
Ugly Sweater Sugar Cookies
(The shape was inspired by Cookie Jar Bakery, but the recipe is mine.)
A good sugar cookie recipe and a collection of cookie cutters can take you through any occasion.
Snowflakes and mittens, flowers and ducks , baseballs and flags, autumn leaves and squirrels, Christmas trees and the Star of David.
Making and decorating sugar cookies can be a lengthy and messy process, especially if you do it with kids.
I can do something about the lengthy and messy process business--a sugar cookie dough you can make, roll out without a mess in batches, and even freeze.
But you're on your own with the kids. Chaos is just part of the whole experience.
When I came across these Ugly Sweater Cookies from Cookie Jar Bakery in Lee's Summit, Missouri, I thought Perfect!
 |
| Photo from Cookie Jar Bakery |
They also have a way with traditional shapes, as in these Christmas trees. Great idea for a new twist on a classic theme.
 |
| Photo from Cookie Jar Bakery |
What I'm leading up to is adding a little humor to some of your holiday baking.
Look for a sweater cookie cutter and a squeeze bottle or two or three (for outlining and filling in cookie decoration with royal icing), make up batches of sugar cookie dough and royal icing, put some holiday music on, and bake something that will make someone smile. Or chuckle. Or snort. You know who you are.
Ugly Sweater Sugar Cookies
(The shape was inspired by Cookie Jar Bakery, but the recipe is mine.)
A standout sugar cookie starts with a dough
that tastes good and performs well under adverse conditions (like a pack of
preschoolers in a small kitchen). This one definitely does. The dough has a
buttery, vanilla-scented flavor; is easy to roll out; and doesn’t spread during
baking. The dough can also be frozen for up to three months, then can be rolled
out, cut out, and baked into cookies. Once the dough is made, the process of
cutting out the sugar cookies is a great opportunity for nostalgia and
collecting. In our family, making holiday sugar cookies with the kids has
always been fun—and messy. For the best results, sift the flour first,
then measure it. Rolling out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper
keeps the mess to a minimum and results in more tender cookies without that
extra flour. Paint the cookies with Cookie Paint (royal icing). You can find meringue powder at hobby,
craft, and cake supply stores or online.
Makes 30 (3-inch) cookies
Classic Sugar Cookie Dough:
3 cups (285 g) sifted unbleached
all-purpose flour
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, or lemon
extract
Cookie Paint:
2 tablespoons meringue powder
1/4 cup (50 ml) cold water
1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, lemon, or
raspberry extract
2 cups (240 g) confectioners’ sugar
Food coloring
For the Classic Sugar Cookie Dough, sift
(again) the flour with the baking powder and salt into a medium bowl; set
aside. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric
mixer until very pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and extract.
Beat in the dry ingredients, a third at a time, until the dough just comes
together. Gather the dough into a ball and knead for 1 minute. Cut it in half
and form each half into a flattened disc. Use right away or wrap and freeze for
up to 3 months. Let the dough come to room temperature before rolling out.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Have
ready two large (11 by 17 inches) sheets of parchment paper or two silicon
baking mats. Place one on a flat surface. Place one disc of dough in the center
and cover with the second piece of parchment or silicon baking mat. Roll out
the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out the cookie shapes and place close to
each other on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat the process with the remaining
dough.
Bake
the cookies until the edges are golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on
the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool
completely.
For the Cookie Paint, whisk the meringue
powder, water, extract, and confectioners’ sugar together in a medium bowl
until smooth and of a paint-like consistency. If you like, divide the paint
among separate bowls and tint each bowl a different color. Using a clean, large
watercolor, paint, or pastry brush (or a squeeze bottle) paint the cookies and leave to dry for at
least 1 hour. Serve right away or store in an airtight container for up to 1
week.
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