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Snowflake Cookies - Using stencil ornaments, any decorated cookie can be turned into a work of art. simplysated
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Snowflake Cookies

Snowflake Cookies are decorated using laser-cut wooden stencils - an easy way to create beautiful designs. ----------------- Original Butter Cookie recipe - Joy of Baking: http://www.joyofbaking.com/ButterCookies.html
Course Cookie, Dessert
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Author Susie Gall

Ingredients

  • 1 c. Butter - unsalted room temperature (226 grams)
  • 2/3 cup sugar 135 grams
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 t. Lemon or Orange Zest optional - and I leave this out
  • 1 t. Vanilla Extract
  • ¼ t. Almond Extract
  • 2¼ c. Flour 295 grams
  • ¼ t. Salt
  • ¼ t. Coarse Sea Salt
  • -------------------------------------
  • Icing ingredients
  • 4 c. Powdered Sugar - sifted
  • 3 T. Corn Syrup
  • 3 T. water
  • ½ t. Almond Extract - can use Vanilla Extract
  • Food coloring - white food coloring creates a more opaque white glaze opt.
  • ¼ c corn sryup and ¼ c. water mixed together and set aside
  • Sanding sugar or colored coarse sugar

Instructions

  1. To Make the Cookies:
  2. Combine butter and sugar and beat until lighter in color and fluffy. (approx. 3-4 minutes)
  3. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond until well blended. (this is when the lemon or orange zest is added, if using)
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
  5. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture all at one time.
  6. Mix on low speed just until incorporated.
  7. ------------------------------------------------
  8. This is how I prepare the dough for refrigeration:
  9. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper or waxed paper and sprinkle a little flour on top.
  10. Divide the dough equally into 2 portions (more if you have doubled the recipe).
  11. Using lightly floured hands, hold 1 portion of dough and gently shape it into a disc.
  12. Place the disk on the floured paper roll gently into a ¼ in. high oval or rectangle.
  13. Lift the paper and place it on a cookie sheet.
  14. Repeat the process until all the dough is used.
  15. Tightly cover the pan of all the layers of dough and refrigerate for at least two hours (or overnight).
  16. ---------------------------------
  17. When ready to bake the cookies:
  18. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  19. When the oven has preheated, take out one sheet of dough at a time and cut into the desired cookie-cutter shapes.
  20. Place the cut-out dough on parchment covered cookie sheets and bake approx. 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn.
  21. Take out of the oven, remove from the baking pan and cool on a cooling rack.
  22. Once completely cooled, the decorating fun can begin.
  23. ________________________________
  24. Powder Sugar Glaze
  25. Sift the powdered sugar into a mixing bowl.
  26. Combine the corn syrup, milk (or water), and flavoring.
  27. Turn the mixer on low until everything is moist - scrape the bowl often.
  28. Turn the mixer to medium and mix until everything is well blended and smooth.
  29. (a little more syrup/water mixture might be needed at this point)
  30. ----------------------------
  31. To Decorate the Cookies:
  32. See my tutorial on decorating sugar cookies: http://www.thecookierookie.com/perfect-decorated-cookies/
  33. Glaze only 2-3 cookies at-a-time before sprinkling with sanding sugar.
  34. After 2-3 cookies have been glazed and the glaze has set just a little but is still moist, center a stenciled ornament on the top - press down very gently and sprinkle with the sanding sugar.
  35. Carefully, lift the stencil ornament straight up and off the cookie.
  36. Lift the cookie and gently shake off the excess sugar.
  37. Voila - beautiful cookies.
  38. Repeat until all cookies are decorated.
  39. Enjoy!