Mary Berry Sugar Cookie Food

MARY'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; blend into the creamed mixture. Cover and chill for at least two hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Divide the dough into two parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of the dough out to 3/16 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle cookies with plain or colored granulated sugar.
• Bake for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

MARY BERRY'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Lightly grease 3 baking trays. Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Measure the butter and sugars into a medium bowl and beat thoroughly with a hand-held electric mixer or wooden spoon until evenly blended. Add the vanilla extract to the beaten egg and then add these gradually to the butter and sugar mixture in the bowl, beating well between each addition. Next, mix in the flour, and lastly stir in the chocolate chips. Spoon large teaspoons of the mixture on to the prepared baking trays, leaving room for the cookies to spread. Bake in the top of the oven for about 8-10 minutes, until the cookies are golden. Watch them like a hawk, as they will turn dark brown very quickly. Allow the cookies to cool on the trays for a few minutes, then lift off with a palette knife or fish slice and place on a wire cooling rack. Leave to cool completely, then store in an airtight tin.

MARY BERRY'S 3-INGREDIENT FORK COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350*F/ 180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter a very large baking tray. Alternately line it with a silicone sheet or some baking paper.
• Measure the butter into a bowl and slowly beat in the sugar using an electric hand mixer. Once it is incorporated slowly beat in the flour. Using your hands, lightly knead the dough until it is totally smooth and brought together. (5 or 6 times)
• Break off walnut sized pieces of the dough and shape into 16 even round balls.
• Place at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Use a fork to lightly press the balls down to flatten somewhat.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until a pale golden brown.
• Scoop off the baking sheet onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Store in an airtight container.

MARTHA'S EASTER SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and cognac until well combined. Add flour mixture; beat on low until just combined. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough evenly and shape into 2 disks; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes and up to 5 days.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Refrigerate until very firm, about 30 minutes, or freeze 10 minutes. Stamp out shapes. Transfer cutouts to prepared sheets, about 1 inch apart. Reroll scraps; stamp out more shapes and transfer to sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes, or freeze 10 minutes. Bake until set and golden around edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool completely.
• Royal Icing: In a bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, egg whites, and 2 teaspoons lemon juice until smooth. If necessary, add more lemon juice or confectioners' sugar to reach desired consistency. Divide and tint with gel-paste colors as desired. Pour some into squeeze bottles for detailing.

OAT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to Gas 4/180°C.
• Grease 2 large baking sheets.
• Put flour, oats, sugar, bicarb and baking powder in a bowl.
• Put the butter and syrup into a pan over a low heat, stirring until the butter combines with the syrup. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and stir until well combined, using your hands to keep the dough together.
• Turn the mixture out of the bowl and divide into 28. Shape it into balls about 2 cm thick.
• Arrange on the baking sheets, but not too close as they spread! Press the tops to flatten a little.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden and firm.
• N.B. They also freeze very well.

MERRY BERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large microwave safe bowl.
• Add the sugar and mix thoroughly. Let the bowl sit on the counter while you do the next step.
• Melt the jam in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat. Once it's the consistency of syrup, mix it in with the butter and sugar.
• Add the eggs, baking soda, and salt, stirring after each addition.
• Add the flour and mix thoroughly. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (Overnight is even better.).
• When your ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, rack in the middle position.
• Roll the chilled dough into small walnut-sized balls with your hands.
• Put 1/3 cup sugar in a small bowl and roll the balls in it.
• Place them on a greased standard-sized cookie sheet, 12 cookies per sheet.
• Flatten the dough balls with a greased spatula.
• Make a small indentation with your thumb or index finger in the center of each cookie. Fill the indentation with about 1/8 teaspoon of jam.
• Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Let them cool for minutes on the cookie sheet, and then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

BETTY'S SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; blend into the creamed mixture. Roll dough into 1/2 inch balls and place them 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten each ball slightly and sprinkle with colored sugar.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.