Pretty Sugar Cookies

Here is an easy recipe for frosted sugar cookies. The finished product is a decorated sugar cookie to tempt eyes and mouths.

Decorating sugar cookies is a little more time consuming than just drizzling or spreading icing, but the investment is well worth the payoff. You can add a little Christmas cheer to your home with decorated Christmas cookies. Use your favorite rolled sugar cookie dough, or try the following recipe:

Frosted Sugar Cookies

• ½ c butter
• ¼ c shortening
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 c flour

Frosting (recipe follows) and Candy Decorations (optional)

1. Cream together shortening and butter. Add sugar. Combining the butter and sugar ensures rich flavor and a soft cookie.
2. Mix in the egg and vanilla.
3. Sift together the flour and baking powder and add to the butter mixture. If you used unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
4. Chill dough for 1 hour.
5. Make frosting while you wait.
6. Roll dough to 1/4" thick and cut desired shapes.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 4-6 minutes, or until set. Do not brown.
8. Cool cookies for 5 minutes on cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.
9. Use pastry bags and a variety of tips to decorate. Have Fun!

Decorating Frosting

• 2 egg whites
• 4 c powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 T butter
• Food Coloring

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, stirring constantly, heat egg whites over medium heat until they reach 160 degrees. Heating the egg whites will kill any bacteria that may be present. If any of the whites cook solid, just strain them out. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat.
3. Mix butter into 1/2 cup of the sugar. Combine and mix with the rest of the sugar.
4. Add the sugar mixture gradually to the egg whites, mixing on low speed.
5. Add vanilla.
6. Divide frosting and color it according to your preference.

Decorating Tips

1. Keep your frosting covered with a damp paper towel to keep it from drying. Add milk, 1/4 teaspoon at a time if it does become too stiff.
2. If you plan to add candy, do so while the frosting is still very soft and won't crack. You may have to decorate one cookie at a time.
3. If you will be layering colors, make sure the bottom layer of frosting is completely dry before decorating over the top of it. Combining more than one color of wet frosting may lead to color bleeding.
4. Keep decorations simple. Too much detail can lead to messy looking cookies.

Decorating sugar cookies may be time consuming, but it is a lot of fun. Decorated sugar cookies make great gifts too. So, involve the kids and make a mess, or just surprise them with their own individualized Christmas cookie.

Decorated Sugar Cookies

Snowman, Christmas Tree, Candy Cane

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