Yesterday was the perfect rainy day to make Halloween sugar cookies with the kids. They are tasty, colourful and great fun to make.
Ingredients:
3 cups of Plain Flour.
1 tsp of Baking Powder.
1cup of Stork Margarine.
1 cup of Caster Sugar.
1 large egg.
1 tsp of Vanilla Extract.
Colourful sprinkles.
Silver Spoon Icing Sugar.
8 tsp cold water.
Black fondant icing.
Americolor gels in Electric Orange & Violet - to colour tint the icing.
The Halloween Cookie cutters were purchased from Asda a couple of years ago, they have lasted for ages.
Method:
In a medium bowl sift the flour and baking power, put the bowl to one side for later.
In another bowl, cream together the Stork margarine and caster sugar with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Alternatively, to save time, you could use an electric mixer. I personally like the old school method, as it feels more traditional.
Next, add one large egg and the vanilla extract. Stir carefully.
Carefully and slowly, blend in the flour mixture, until fully incorporated. You should do this gradually, until the mixture starts to pull away from the side of the bowl.
Then, once the mixture looks like it could be handled, take the dough out of the bowl and place into greeceproof paper.
Knead the dough gently for a few minutes and then wrap in cling film. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours. If you are pushed for time, you could place the dough in the freezer for 20 mins..... But don't forget about it ;-)
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius .
Place the chilled dough on greeceproof paper and with a rolling pin, roll the dough until it is about a third inch thick.
With the cookie cutter shapes, press into the dough firmly and gently lift, until the shape is clearly defined. Remove the excess dough around the shape.
I find it easier to cut out the greeceproof paper around the shape and lift that onto the baking tray, rather than trying to lift the raw cookie, as it usually has a tendency to break.
Bake in the oven for 8-10 mins, until lightly golden.
Once the cookies have baked and are looking good, allow to cool whilst you prepare the icing.
In a bowl mix the icing sugar and water together. Add the water a tsp at a time, mixing thoroughly. You should stop when the icing leaves a small trail, when you cut through with a spoon, for 20 seconds.
Divide the icing into 3 separate bowls.
With a toothpick, a drop at a time, add the colour gel carefully. First the electric orange. Mixing well.
Then, in the other bowl, with another toothpick, the violet.
Keep one bowl with just plain white icing.
Now, you are free to decorate the cookies however you wish ;-)
Get into the spirit of Halloween and have no fear whilst decorating. Use sprinkles, ribbon, sweets..... Have fun!!
XOXO.
