CHRISTMAS IN JULY COOKIES
45 Min Total: 3 HR (INCLUDES CHILLING DOUGH BUT NOT DECORATING)
Ingredients for cookies:
- 1 Stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground cardamom (Optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg until blended; add vanilla, baking powder, cardamom and salt. Gradually add flour and beat until smooth. Shape dough into a disk; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick foil. Roll out dough between 2 sheets parchment or wax paper to 3/8- in. thickness. Cut decorations with cookie cutter. Transfer them to prepared baking sheet with small spatula. Insert the point of of a skewer (by gently twirling it between your thumb and index finger) about 2 ½ in. into dough through pointed tip of each cookie. Gather and refrigerate dough scraps.
3. Bake 12-14 minutes, until cookies are golden brown at edges. Cool on sheet on wire rack 5 minutes; transfer to rack and cool completely. Roll, cut and bake remaining cookies as directed above.
Ingredients for icing:
- ½ Cup meringue powder
- 8 cups confectioners sugar
INSTRUCTIONS:
Using a hand mixer with the beater attachments, beat together meringue powder with 1 cup of water until peaks form. Add sugar and continue mixing until smooth. If mixture seems too thick, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix until desired consistency is reached. If mixture seems too thin, add confectioners sugar. 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.