Sugar cookies are a great treat to enjoy with family and friends, you can make them at home with a few easy steps. Learn how to store your sugar cookies so they last longer, roll out the dough and decorate your cookies with icing.
Rolling out the dough between two layers of plastic wrap
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, sugar cookie dough can be challenging to work with. It is not as easy to roll out as buttery cookie dough, but you can make it a little easier on yourself.
The first step in making a rolled-out sugar cookie is ensuring that you have all the ingredients. You may also want to check that your cookie sheets are lined with parchment paper and that your oven is capable of baking the cookies.
Next, you need to decide how to roll out your sugar cookie dough. Some recipes will tell you to roll your dough into a ball, but that’s not always the best way to do it. If you have a large enough surface, you can easily roll out the cookie dough without a ball.
Another great way to roll out your dough is to roll it between two pieces of plastic wrap. This is an excellent idea to see how far you’ve progressed as you roll out your sugar cookie dough.
Decorating with icing
There are many ways to decorate sugar cookies with icing. The easiest is to use store-bought frosting. However, you can make your own using a few simple ingredients. This method will be the perfect choice if you are short on time and looking to create an impressive design.
First, prepare your cookie cutters. You can use either straight cuts or shapes. Try to lay the edges about one inch apart on the baking sheet. If you are not sure of the correct spacing, you can do a test with a piece of parchment paper.
After the cookies have cooled, you can begin decorating. Placing parchment paper or wax paper under the cookies is a good idea to prevent them from sticking. Once you have placed your decorations on your cookies, you should let them dry completely. Leaving the elements to dry will help them form a three-dimensional design.
The next step is to fill in the outline of your cookies. To do this, you will need royal icing. Generally, the thicker the icing, the better.
Storing icing
If you plan to make your sugar cookies, you will need to store the icing. You can either keep it in an airtight container or a squeeze bottle.
When storing the icing, you should ensure that it is thin enough not to run off your cookies. It should also be smooth and free of air bubbles. The thickness of the icing will also affect how long it takes to dry.
If you plan on using more than one color on your sugar cookie, you should wait for the first color to harden before applying the second color. This will prevent any color bleeding, which could cause variations in the shade.
To add color to your icing, you can use gel food dye. You can also add flavor extracts such as vanilla or almond. However, it is preferable to use pure quotes rather than artificial ones.
Icing will not last for very long if stored in the freezer. A reasonable shelf life for this type of frosting is a week at room temperature.
Storage of icing for sugar cookies
For the best results, it’s essential to store icing for sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. This will ensure the cookies are not affected by moisture.
Icing for sugar cookies can be stored for up to two weeks at room temperature. However, a longer shelf life can be achieved if you divide the icing into four bowls.
The thickness of the icing can affect the drying time. Thicker icing is better than thinner. You can add a little corn syrup to thicken it up.
Once the color is incorporated into the icing, you can store it in an airtight container. If you’re planning to use the icing for more than one decorating session, wait for the first color to dry before you continue to decorate.
Before storing icing, you’ll want to stir it. This helps to remove any air bubbles and redistribute the color.
If you plan to make more than a few cookies, you can freeze the icing in a quart Ziploc bag. It will keep in the freezer for a few months.
