Cookies, Cutout, Icing

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Sugar Cookie Decorator Frosting

Dries well enough that you can stack the cookies after they are frosted
Course: Snack

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, confectioners’ sugar, and milk until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and food coloring. Spread on or between cookies.

Notes

Used first with piping bag on Lamb cookies
 
July 2012

Royal Icing

Royal icing is not only used for decorating, but it is the mortar that holds the gingerbread pieces together to form the house. The following proportions should make enough icing for both the mortaring step and for decorating for one gingerbread house.
Course: Snack

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 2 2/3 cup powdered sugar divided

Instructions

  • Whisk together until smooth the egg whites and 1 1/3 cups of the powdered sugar.
  • If you are planning to eat your gingerbread house, and are concerned about the safety of raw eggs, you can microwave the egg white powdered sugar mixture for several seconds (30-40) until the mixture reaches a temperature of 160 degrees, but not higher than 175°F. You can also use pasteurized dried or liquid egg whites.
  • Add the remaining 1 1/3 cup of powdered sugar to the sugar egg mixture. Using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until the icing holds stiff peaks. If it doesn’t form stiff peaks, add more powdered sugar.
  • Place a dampened clean towel over the bowl of royal icing. Keep this towel over the icing to prevent it from drying out while you work with it.
  • When you are ready to mortar or decorate, fill a pastry bag with the icing. If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can make your own with a re-sealable plastic freezer bag, just cut off the tip (a small cut) of one of the corners of the bag. Plastic or metal piping tips are available in supermarkets which you can also use with a freezer bag, for more controlled piping.