The Delights of December
One of our favorite things about December is the marvelous treats that
start coming out of the kitchen. We go into baking overdrive as we create
batch after batch of all those delightful things that make the season
complete: candies, cakes, quick breads, pies, and of course, cookies,cookies and more cookies!
Go Cookie Crazy
Christmas just isn't Christmas without sugar cookies: Tucked cozily into a
warm kitchen, apron dusted with flour, fingers sticky with five colors of
frosting, tummy aching from sampling one too many of the wares, and heart
content from inhaling that buttery, comforting aroma of fresh cookies and
spending time with the people you love. With our tips for cutting,
decorating and packing for the mail, you'll delight everyone with batches
of your most beautiful and tantalizing cookies yet.
Rolling and Cutting
You will find cookie dough much easier to work with
after it's been refrigerated for at least half an hour. Keep cookie
cutters from sticking to the dough by misting them very lightly with
cooking spray. If you're cutting out delicate or large shapes, save them
from falling apart by rolling out the dough on parchment paper, lifting
off the scraps, then sliding the paper directly onto a baking sheet.
More Hints for Cut-Out Cookies
Frosting
One popular frosting for sugar cookies is a simple glaze of
confectioners' sugar and either milk or fruit juice. By adjusting the
ratio of liquid to sugar, you can make this glaze as thick or as thin as
you'd like. Royal icing is another option: it dries to a hard, crunchy
finish and also holds up well in the mail. Buttercream frosting is soft
and thick; tasty, but not good if you plan to stack the cookies. Instead
of frosting, you can also dip half or all of a cookie in chocolate and
then in chopped nuts or crushed candy canes.
More Cookie Decorating Ideas
Other Decorating Ideas
Instead of frosting, you can decorate the
cookies before you bake them! Sprinkle on coarse colored sugar, nuts,
colored sprinkles, silver dragees or other small candies,. Alternatively,
make colorful designs on the unbaked cookies by painting them with a
mixture of egg yolks beaten together with food coloring. The finished
cookie will be bright and glossy.
Cookie FAQs
Mailing
When making cut-out cookies for mailing, choose fairly sturdy
shapes without too many small protrusions. Pack decorated, dry cookies in
a flat, sturdy container with a tight-fitting lid. Lay down a selection
of cookie shapes in a single layer, fitting them together as closely as
possible. Now pile more cookies into the container, stacking same-shape
cookies on top of each other. When the container is full, put wadded-up
pieces of wax paper or unbuttered popcorn into any empty spaces, then seal
the lid. Wrap the container in bubble wrap, then pack it into a box that
is further padded with foam peanuts. The cookies should arrive fresh and
beautiful and full of home-baked love.
More Cookie Mailing Hints
Hosting a Cookie Exchange Party
Christmas Cookie Countdown
 
 
 
Please continue your journey through the Crouse House
All recipes tried and Crouse House approved!
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