Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract
- Assorted candies, sprinkles, sanding sugars, for decorating
Ingredients for Icing:
- 1 pound confectioners' sugar
- 5 tablespoons meringue powder or 2 large egg whites
Directions for Cookie dough:
- In large bowl whisk flour baking powder baking soda and salt. With an electric stand mixer cream butter and sugar until fluffy about 3-5 minutes.
- Beat in egg, vanilla and almond extract in a separate bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed butter and beat until combined.
- Divide dough in half and flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 20-25 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Line baking sheets with parchment or silpat baking sheet. Remove one dough disk and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.
- Roll out 1/8 inch thick dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters.
- Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. (if dough gets too soft chill for about 5 minutes)
- Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Cool completely on wire racks.
- To ice cookies, follow royal icing method. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes.
- Decorate as desired.
Directions for Icing:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine sugar and meringue powder.
- Mixing on low speed, add aboust 1/2 cup water. For a thinner consistency, usually used for flooding, add more water. And thicker consistency for outlining and adding details.
- Mix until icing holds a ribbon like consistency when paddle is lifted. (add red food coloring to one bowl for red icing and leave one white to make candy cane appearance)
Holiday Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies - Home & Family
Recipe courtesy of Brian Emmett Get more great recipes and crafts by visiting us on Pinterest at pinterest.com/homeandfamilytv and follow "Home & Family" on Twitter @homeandfamilytv and Facebook. Plus, check out our YouTube channel for backstage videos.