Yeah, it's Spring!  Which means it's time for some Spring sugar cookies.  These cookies have been my favorite cookie design that I have ever done.  I love how fancy they look, even though they are pretty easy to decorate.  My little boy was so cute eating a Spring sugar cookie because he thought they were so special. These beautiful sugar cookies are easy to make and perfect for welcoming spring
My favorite sugar cookie recipe can be found at Fancy Flours.  The only addition I make is to add 1 teaspoon of almond extract.
When I decorate sugar cookies, I use an icing made of meringue powder, powdered sugar, and water.  I like to make small batches at a time, since I like to mix all of my frosting colors at once.  I mix together 1 spoon of meringue powder, 4 heaping spoons of powdered sugar, and 1 1/2 spoons of water.  Then I stir the icing slowly in a bowl until the ingredients are combined.  Depending on the consistency, I'll add more powdered sugar or more water until the icing resembles Elmer's glue.
 After I mix in some food coloring (I like to use Wilton gel coloring), I'll add some of the icing into a plain sandwich bag.  To the rest of the icing left in the bowl, I'll add a few more drops of water.  Then I'll add the rest of the icing to another sandwich bag.  I like to do this because I have the exact same color icing in a thick consistency for outlining and detail work, and a thinner icing for filling in the cookie designs.
I like to use sandwich bags to decorate with because I think it's actually easier than using a pastry bag with a tip.  For the sandwich bag, I simply snip off the smallest tip of a corner to use for decorating.  Here's what it should look like (even though this icing was used for a different set of cookies.)
 
I also like to use the back of a spoon to spread the icing to where I want it to go on the cookie.
Start by covering the cookie in your choice of colored icing, leaving enough room around the edges for the border. Allow this layer to dry for about 10 minutes.  I like to do this step on all of the cookies I will be decorating at once, so each phase has time to dry. Once the colored icing layer has dried enough, create a circle of white icing in the very center.  I like to pipe a good amount of icing in one drop in the center of the cookie, and then use the back of a spoon to guide the icing to where I want the edge of the circle. Then, pipe small dots of white icing all the way around the border of the cookie.
Next, make a series of random swirls with the white icing on top of the colored layer.  Then go back and fill in empty spaces with more small dots.
To make the center roses, pipe medium sized dots on the white center with pink icing and allow to dry for about 15 minutes.  To make the rose detail, you will need a slightly thicker icing, and possibly a smaller tip cut on your sandwich bag.  Start in the middle of each dot, and simply make a swirl to the edge of the dot.  Finally, add the leaves by using a bag with green icing brought right up to the edge of the rose, and drag to taper off.
After I had made these cookies, I was looking at my color choices and thought they would be perfect for a Disney Princess party.  The yellow one immediately reminded me of Belle, green of Tiana, purple of Ariel.... then I wished I had done a light blue one also.
I think these Spring sugar cookies look grown up enough for a regular tea party as well 🙂 They will definitely be on the menu for when Downton Abbey starts up again.
If you have any questions, please let me know.  Also, if you make these Spring sugar cookies, I'd love to see them.  Take a picture and share it on my Facebook page, and make sure to check out my cookie board on Pinterest.  Happy Spring!

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