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by Alea Milham 20 Comments
Decorating Sugar Cookies is a traditional holiday activity. Below are tips to make decorating cookies a little easier.
How to Make Colored Sugar:
Put plain white sugar in bowls and then add a couple drops of food color to make colored sugar. I also make colored coconut in this manner. Coconut adds texture to trees, bunnies, birds, and angel wings.
How to Make Colored Frosting:
I make a batch of the buttercream frosting recipe which is posted below. I divide the frosting between small bowls and add food color to make the desired color. I put a knife in each bowl for spreading the frosting on the cookies. If there is any leftover, I put a lid on the bowl and save it to make graham cracker sandwich cookies.
Other Food Items to Use to Decorate Cookies:
Raisins, cranberries, nuts, coconut, and colored candies are great for adding detail to cookies. A little goes a long way, so you can buy an individual serving of mini M&M’s instead of the 16-ounce bags.
I buy the fancy sprinkles when they go on sale after a holiday. You can use the red Christmas sprinkles for decorating Valentine’s Day, and the green for St. Patrick’s Day…
If a cookie needs piping. I spoon a small amount of frosting into a plastic bag and cut off a corner, twist the bag above the frosting level, and then squeeze the frosting onto the cookie. You can use either the buttercream recipe below or you can use this decorating icing recipe.
I also picked up a couple of Norpro Decorating Set
(they are usually less than $6.50 each). I fill them with colored frosting so that my kids can add texture to the cookies without forcing me to buy the decorator tubes from the store.
Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe
Easy Sugar Cookies
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Alea
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 24
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (you can use gf flour)
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (optional)
Directions
- Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat for about one minute.
- Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Knead dough well.
- Refrigerate for at least two hours.
- Slice or roll out to use cookie cutters.
- Bake cookies for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Cookies should be very pale when done.
- Let cool on a cookie rack. When cool you can decorate the cookies if you like.
Notes
Kitchen Tip: Use a wooden cutting board inserted in a pillowcase to roll out cookie dough. Turn the pillowcase inside out before you put it in the wash.
Yes, they all have the white hand of Saruman on their face. If I give them flour this is what happens every. single. time!
Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Butter Cream Frosting
Prep time
Total time
Author: Alea
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 - 4 tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions
- Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of milk in a blender on low speed until the mixture is smooth.
- If it is too thick, add milk a little bit at a time until it is the desired consistency.
- Add food coloring if desired.
What is your favorite cookie to make? Does the whole family get in on the action or do they just show up and “make sure that the cookies are safe for human consumption”once the cookies have cooled?
More Holiday Treats:
- Homemade Candy and Fudge Recipes
- Easy Peppermint Bark
- Double Mint Holiday Bark
About Alea Milham
Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.
Comments
Nicole Feliciano says
Pillow case…that is a new one. Can't wait to see what you come up with for tomorrow. My recipe is pork–until then!
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Karine says
Thanks for the pillowcase tips! Your cookies sound delish 🙂
Reply
Martha says
Sugar cookies — my favorite — and even better when frosted!
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Jerri says
I just love sugar cookies! So simple and good.
Reply
Shana says
We use a pillowcase to roll biscuits out on also. My Mom does and my gandma did and my great grandma….you get the idea. They don't stick to your surface that way. I never thought about cookie dough though. Thanks!
Reply
Kristen says
My kids constantly beg me to make sugar cookies. I haven't figured out if it's the cookies or the frosting with sprinkles that they love more. Yours sound great.
Reply
honeysuckle says
I love the taste of sugar cookies and it looks like you have a houseful that do too. Lucky you to have them helping you!
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