Sugar Cookie Mini Cakes Food

SUGAR COOKIE MINI CAKES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat together the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the extracts and egg and mix to combine. Reduce the speed to low and then gradually add the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Pour the dough out onto a clean work surface and give it a few kneads to bring it all together. Divide it in half, wrap half of it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it while you roll out the first half. (Alternatively, you can make the dough in advance, wrap all of it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight.)
• Dust your work surface and a rolling pin with flour and roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out 5 increasing sizes of circles, 1 1/2 inches to 3 inches, and use a small offset spatula to transfer them to a baking sheet, 1-inch apart. Re-roll the scraps and repeat with the remaining half of the dough. Bake until the bottoms are lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the pans for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the frosting: In a large bowl with an electric mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter until soft and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix to combine. Mix in the extracts and salt. Add food coloring if desired.
• To assemble: Transfer the frosting to a piping bag. Stack up the circles, largest on the bottom, with a thin layer of frosting between them and decorate with sprinkles as desired.

HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 36 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix cookie mix, softened butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Stir in 1/4 cup candy sprinkles. Shape into 36 (1 1/4-inch) balls. Place in mini muffin cups. Press indentation in center of each with end of wooden spoon.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately repeat indentation into center of each cookie with end of clean wooden spoon to make 1-inch opening, cleaning off end with paper towel when needed. Cool in pan 20 minutes. Loosen edges with small knife if needed. Remove to cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, place half of the frosting. Tint red with food color. Place large piping bag fitted with medium star tip on its side. Using large icing spatula, spoon remaining vanilla frosting so it covers half of the length of side of piping bag. Carefully spoon red tinted frosting on top. Insert tip into indentation in each cookie cup. Squeeze bag to fill opening, and pipe about 2 heaping teaspoons per cookie cup. Sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons sprinkles. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

EASY SUGAR COOKIE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Prepare a 9 inch cake pan with parchment paper in the bottom and baking spray on the sides. Set aside.
• Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. You should be able to see the change in color and texture and know it's ready.
• Add the egg and mix until well combined.
• Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until the dough is just well combined. Do not over mix. Once it's well combined, use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
• Press the cookie dough evenly into the cake pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden.
• Allow to cool completely in the pan. It will firm up as it cools.
• Once cool, quickly invert the cookie onto a cooling rack. Quickly place another cooling rack on the bottom of the cookie (which is now facing up) and invert again, so that the cookie cake is upright.
• To make the buttercream, add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth.
• Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
• Add the vanilla extract and a tablespoon of cream or water and mix until well combined and smooth.
• Add the rest of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add more cream or water to get the right consistency.
• Place the buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a piping tip (I used Ateco 847) and pipe shells of frosting around the outer edge of the cake.