In our family we don't always have cakes for birthday celebrations. We just have the birthday girl or boy's favorite dessert. I was so surprised when I asked Alexander what he'd like for his birthday dessert and he said sugar cookies. I wasn't expecting it because I never make sugar cookies and didn't even know he liked them at all. I had to search for a good recipe for soft sugar cookies and found these pretty frosted cookies at Christy's The Girl Who Ate Everything. I made the dough while the kids were in school and then let them roll it out and cut them up when they got home. We baked them for 9 minutes in our oven and they were soft and looked perfect. Can you believe I didn't even try one of them??? But the kids did and they really liked them so the recipe is a keeper!
I did some hearts, but the kids did all kinds of shapes.
We made an icing and left half of it white and made half of it teal. We ran out of that before we frosted all the cookies so the rest of them were covered with chocolate. These were the three that Alex chose to eat. A for Alex, a bass clef, and an almost yin-yang cookie (it has no dots) that Sabrina made.
Soft Sugar Cookies1 c. sour cream
2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla or almond extract
6 c. flour
3 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
Preheat oven to 350ยบ. Combine sour cream, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.
Add dry ingredients until everything is mixed together. Let the dough chill in fridge for 20 minutes or until firm.
Roll it out and use cookie cutters. Bake until LIGHT golden brown-no more than 10 minutes. When you take them out they will seem underdone but aren't.
I found the icing recipe at All Recipes.
Sugar Cookie Icing
1 c. powdered sugar
2 t. milk
2 t. light corn syrup
1/4 t. almond extract
Assorted food coloring
In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup. Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.
I thought this cookie that Elisa made was especially beautiful. She cut the base with a knife and then made a little swirl and stuck it on top before baking.
2 t. milk
2 t. light corn syrup
1/4 t. almond extract
Assorted food coloring
In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup. Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.
I thought this cookie that Elisa made was especially beautiful. She cut the base with a knife and then made a little swirl and stuck it on top before baking.
Smart boy!
ReplyDeleteI like that they get to pick a Dessert.
I like even more what he chose. One of my top favorite desserts too.
I will add this one to my list to try.
I also have some GREAT family treasured ones as well. I will have to share them sometime!
Oh I love soft sugar cookies like these! These look so yummy with the frosting on top!
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you bake with your children. They'll have forever memories of a Mom who takes the time to bake with them.
ReplyDeleteI love soft sugar cookies with cream cheese icing. I am going to have to try this recipe too! We always let the girls pick dinner and dessert. Sometimes they pick cookies, sometimes crepes, sometimes cake, but they are always happy to pick and help make it!
ReplyDeleteOhh these do look perfect...we're going to try them tomorrow! So was your Alexander as amazing when he was little as my nephew Xander? Is it all in the name? :) Happy birthday Alex! luv, trina
ReplyDeleteSounds (and looks) like a fun new b-day tradition to do the sugar cookies. That is the very icing recipe I use. I love how shiny it is and how the icing hardens and the cookies can be stacked.
ReplyDeleteWe also do a favorite dessert for b-days here, too, instead of just cake!
You have some great self-control! Happy Birthday to Alex! The recipe and the cookies looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Alex! :) Your youngest is so cute. Love her cheesy grin! :)
ReplyDelete~ingrid