Joys White Velvet Cutout Cookies Food

WHITE VELVET CUTOUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate until firm enough to roll, 2 hours., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with floured 3-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake until set (do not brown), 10-12 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a bowl, beat butter, shortening and vanilla until blended. Beat in confectioners' sugar and enough milk to reach spreading consistency; beat until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. If desired, beat in food coloring. Frost cookies. (Keep frosting covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.)

WHITE VELVET CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
• Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla: mix well.
• Gradually add flour.
• Cover and chill 2 hours or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Cut into 3-inch shapes.
• Place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set (not brown at all).
• Cool for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to continue cooling.
• Frost after completely cool with White Velvet Buttercream Cookie Frosting (see Recipe #48001).

WOOKIE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in molasses, egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. gingerbread man cookie cutter. , Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Create lines in each cutout with tines of a fork to look like fur. Bake until edges are firm, 7-9 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , To decorate, pipe melted semisweet chocolate for eyes, nose and utility belt, then pipe melted white chocolate for mouth and bullets. Let stand until set.

NEVER-FAIL CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour. Divide dough into 4 portions; shape each into a disk. Cover; refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with floured 3-in. holiday cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake until edges are light golden, 12-14 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, beat confectioners' sugar, butter, shortening, vanilla and enough milk to reach desired consistency. If desired, tint with food coloring. Spread or pipe over cookies. Decorate as desired.

FROSTING FOR WHITE VELVET CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, shortening, vanilla and 3 tablespoons milk in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth.
• Gradually add the remaining sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add enough remaining milk and food coloring until frosting reaches desired color and consistency.
• •food coloring pastes are much stronger than regular food coloring--a little food coloring paste goes a long way and it also doesn't thin out your frosting like regular food coloring can.

BAKED-ON COOKIE FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine all of the frosting ingredients in small bowl, with a hand mixer, until smooth.
• Spoon the frosting in plastic resealable food bag.
• Cut a very small tip from one corner. Decorate cookies with frosting to create desired designs. Sprinkle with sugar, if using.
• Bake as directed on the cookie recipe. If desired, sprinkle with sugar again while still warm.
• Tip: If frosting is too thick, stir in 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon hot water; if too thin, stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons flour.
• For cinnamon-vanilla frosting: Substitute vanilla extract for the hot water and add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• For lemon frosting: Substitute fresh lemon juice for the hot water. You can add 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest for extra flavor, if desired.

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS SUGAR CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Add shortening or margarine using a fork to combine with dry ingredients.
• Add unbeaten eggs and vanilla.
• Mix well.
• Add ground pecans for added flavor. (This is how Grandma always mixed hers).
• Whisk the dry ingredients together, add alternately with the eggs and vanilla.
• Mix well.
• Roll out thin on floured board and cut with floured cookie cutters.
• Decorate with sugar.
• Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes.
• Makes about 6 dozen.