Day of the Dead Sugar Cookies
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with these festive sugar cookies, adorned with bright colors and intricate designs reminiscent of sugar skulls. These cookies are as delicious as they are beautiful.
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Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer or hand whisk
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie cutter (skull shape preferred, but circle can also work)
- baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Various decorating tools (piping bags, tips, etc.)
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract optional
For the icing and decoration:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ½ tablespoons milk
- Food coloring in various colors
- Assorted decorative elements e.g., sprinkles, colored sugars, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until smooth and light. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using).1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until fully incorporated. The dough should come together without being too sticky.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your skull cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
- While the cookies cool, prepare the icing: In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar with milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve a smooth consistency. If desired, divide the icing into separate bowls and tint with food coloring.2 cups powdered sugar, 2 ½ tablespoons milk, Food coloring in various colors
- Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing, creating intricate sugar skull designs. Use the decorative elements to add further details and let the icing set.Assorted decorative elements
Notes
- You can use store-bought royal icing if you prefer a firmer set for detailed designs.
- If the dough becomes too soft to work with, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes before rolling and cutting.
Nutrition
Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 75mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 17g
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