Santa Cookies
Rating
Here's a crazy idea that just might be brilliant: This year, leave the plate of cookies for Santa in his own image.
Ingredients
- COOKIES
- 3 c. (360 g.) all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 c. (200 g.) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp. whole milk
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 5 c. (570 g.) powdered sugar
- ¼ c. whole milk
- ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- Red food coloring, red sanding sugar, and red and brown mini M&M's, for decorating
Instructions
- COOKIES
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and granulated sugar until fluffy and pale in color, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat on medium speed until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
- Divide dough in half and place one-half between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment. Roll to a scant ¼"-thick round. Transfer to a large baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut out shapes of dough with a 4½" Santa-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing 1" apart. Freeze 5 minutes.
- Bake cookies until edges are lightly golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
- FROSTING & ASSEMBLY
- In a large bowl, using electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and beat on low speed until smooth. Add milk, vanilla, and salt and beat until well combined.
- Transfer two-thirds of buttercream to a piping bag or resealable plastic bag fitted with a small star tip. Whisk a few drops of red food coloring into remaining buttercream.
- Using a small offset spatula, spread red buttercream over tops of cookies to create the hat. Dip into sanding sugar, pressing to smooth and adhere.
- Using short piping motions, pipe stars of white buttercream onto cookies to create a beard and ball on each cap. Press 1 red M&M into the beard for a nose. Using small amounts of buttercream, secure brown M&M's onto each cookie to create eyes.
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