Baking and Decorating 250 Cookies Is Not For Whimps
Holy Derby Day, did I ever bite off more than I could chew! Making 250 cookies is crazy, especially when they are all cut cookies and they also need to be decorated. I’m positive I volunteered for this while drinking wine. None-the-less, it happened. The deadline for getting the cookies made and decorated was approaching like a speeding train!
Send In The Troops!
There is no way on this earth I could have made these cookies, without the help of my amazing friends! They charged to my rescue! Even with the shifts of helpers, it was still two full days of baking and decorating. Now, I really sound like a whiner, don’t I? So, here’s the greatest part. I used a cookie recipe by https://www.bakingamoment.com these cookies are as promised. They are easy to make, taste good and they hold their shape when baked. This recipe also allows for making the dough with cold butter and eggs. I was a bit nervous about that part, but it really did work perfectly. Not to mention that you can even roll them right after you make the dough. No resting time required. The dough is super soft and easy to work with, I highly recommend this recipe when you’re baking with kids too.
Horses, Hats & Hope
The best part of the story is that these cookies are going straight to work. They are favors for the upcoming Horses, Hats & Hope fundraiser for REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program and The Foundations For Senior Care. This event helps fund my favorite organization and their ability to continue the program which helps so many in and around our community. Please check them out at https://www.reinsprogram.org
Southern Spirit
This year, in addition to catered lunch, there will be plenty of Mint Juleps along with bourbon and tequila tastings. Saturday is not only race day but also Cinco De Mayo. So, hats on! I hear I will be working the tequila tasting, probably because they wouldn’t trust me in close proximity to the bourbon!
So whatever you’re celebrating this Saturday, be it Cinco De Mayo, Kentucky Derby, the weekend or all three, have fun! Cheers!
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup butter, cut into small cubes
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup corn starch
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
For The Royal Icing
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup water
- gel or other food coloring
Instructions
For The Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- In the bowl of a mixer, add butter and mix until light, add sugar and beat until light and airy. Add eggs one at a time and continue to mix until combined, about 2 minutes. with beater on low, add salt and vanilla. Slowly add cornflower and increase speed gradually. Let the mixture come together, about 1 minute. Turn beater to low and add the flour. Let the mixture continue to beat on medium low until all the flour is incorporated. Turn out and roll. I roll between plastic wrap, or you can use parchment paper, or roll in traditional fashion on a floured surface.
- Bake cookies 10-12 minutes until just starting to turn brown on the edges. Let cool, then decorate.
For the Royal Icing
- Into the bowl of your mixer with the whisk attachment, add 3 tablespoons meringue powder and 1/4 cup water. Slowly whip until the mixture is frothy. Add vanilla and 4 cups of powdered sugar. Slowly add water by tablespoon if needed to thin to the correct consistency. Allow the icing to whip for about 4-5 minutes. Color as needed.
- Cover the icing with a damp towel while working with the cookies or cover with plastic wrap and re-whip prior to using again.
