Butter Cookie Cutouts

Recipe By: Calphalon Team  -  Originally Published: 7/27/2011

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Tease your creative side with refreshingly light and flavorful butter cookies. Top them off with your own inspired icing colors! It's fun treat that's fun to make!

  • Servings: Yield 12 - 16
  • Prep Time: Less than 30 Minutes
  • Cook Time: Less than 30 Minutes
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Course: Dessert

Ingredients

Dough
14 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4" pieces
3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional)
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

Icing
4-1/2 to 5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 large egg white
2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice
Food coloring
Pastry bags or new paint brushes

Directions

Dough
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a flat paddle, cream the butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar; mix on low speed to incorporate. Add egg yolks and extracts and mix just until incorporated. Add flour and mix until dough just comes together. Shape dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease two cookie sheets. Remove dough from the refrigerator and wait 10 minutes before rolling.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough 1/8" to 1/4" thick. Cut into desired shapes. Then transfer to prepared cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies begin to turn golden. Remove cookies with a spatula and cool on a rack.

Icing
In a bowl, whisk the sugar, egg white and lemon juice together until smooth and creamy. Adjust with water or additional confectioners’ sugar if necessary. Divide and color the icing as desired. Icing will dry quickly so keep covered with plastic wrap, laid directly on the surface as you work. Apply with an icing spatula, a small, clean paint brush, or a pastry bag.

Makes 1 dozen 4" cookies or 20 3" cookies.

Recipe is included with our Kitchen Essentials from Calphalon 10" x 14" and 12" x 17" Cookie Sheet Set.