Spring Blossom Cookies Food

SPRING BLOSSOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients except for the Cadbury Mini Eggs. Avoid over mixing dough.
• Pinch off dough about two teaspoons in size. Form into a ball and roll in sugar before placing on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes. While still hot, firmly but carefully press three Cadbury Mini Eggs into the top of each cookie.

CHERRY BLOSSOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Sugar Cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, egg, and brandy and continue beating until well combined. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use a 2 5/8-inch square cutter to cut out squares. Reroll scraps once (you should have about 16 cookies). Transfer to prepared sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Bake until set and golden around edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.
• Royal Icing: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Reduce speed to low and add confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, increasing speed to medium-high between each addition, until mixture has consistency of shampoo. Add lemon juice. Tint with pink food color until desired shade is reached. Transfer mixture to a shallow bowl. If not using immediately, icing can be stored at room temperature, with plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, up to 2 days, or in refrigerator, well wrapped in plastic, up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Working with one cookie at a time, dip cookie top-side down in icing to completely coat surface, allowing excess glaze to drip back into bowl. Invert cookie and clean edges with your finger, if desired. Transfer to a wire rack or baking sheet and let stand at room temperature until completely dry, at least 12 hours and up to overnight. Reserve remaining icing for decorations, at room temperature, with plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, or in refrigerator, well wrapped in plastic. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Stir additional confectioners' sugar into icing until it has consistency of toothpaste. Divide mixture into 3 portions and tint with pink food color until 3 desired shades are reached. Transfer each color to a piping bag fitted with a small plain round or star tip (such as Ateco #2, #3, or #13).
• Place luster dust in a small bowl. Stir in vodka, a little at a time, until mixture has consistency of thick watercolor paint. Using a small food-safe paintbrush, paint a tree branch design on surface of each cookie. Using the 3 shades of pink icing, pipe small blossoms on branches. Let stand at room temperature until completely dry, about 4 hours. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and peanut butter. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla and mix well.
• Sift dry ingredients and gradually blend into creamed mixture.
• Shape into small 1 inch balls.
• Roll in 1/3 cup sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Do not press down.
• Bake in 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.
• Top with a chocolate kiss immediately. Press down until cookie cracks around the edges.

PEANUT BLOSSOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars.
• Add egg and vanilla.
• Blend in flour, soda and salt.
• Roll dough into 1" balls and roll in granulated sugar.
• Place balls on cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes.
• Remove half baked cookies from the oven, press one Hershey kiss into each.
• Return to oven and bake 2-3 more minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool completely.

ORANGE BLOSSOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.
• Add egg, 3 tablespoons orange juice, orange peel and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed.
• Reduce speed to low; add flour and salt. Beat until just combined.
• Divide dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic food wrap; flatten slightly. Refrigerate until firm (2 hours).
• Heat oven to 375°F Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2-inch flower-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine powdered sugar and butter in small bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough orange juice for desired spreading consistency (2 to 3 minutes). Frost cooled cookies. Decorate with sugars, if desired. .

SPRING COOKIE BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Spread 4 wafers with peanut butter; top with remaining wafers. Place on dessert plate.
• Cut tulip shape from each strawberry half. Place on wafers.
• Cut 4 stems from apple peels; cut leaves from remaining peels. Place stem at bottom of each tulip. Add leaves. Sprinkle graham crumbs around bottoms of stems to resemble dirt.