Decorated sugar cookies-Daring bakers challenge september 2010

I have never baked sugar cookies until this challenge came up.
The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

Baking these cookies was quite easy and wasn’t time consuming either but the challenge was to decorate them according to the theme September. For me September is the start of celebration, my hubby’s birthday and then start of Navarathri.Celebration means color, joy…..so decided to decorate it in many hues.

As i wanted to bake eggless cookies, i baked these cookies from Slashfood

These are perfect sugar cookies which we liked to eat without icing.

INGREDIENTS

All purpose flour 3 cups

Sugar 1 cup

Butter 1 cup

Vanilla 1 tsp

Baking powder 1 1/2 tsp

Salt 1/2 tsp

Milk 3 tbsp

PREPARATION

Cream the butter and sugar till creamy and fluffy.

Add vanilla and beat again and keep it aside

In a broad vessel, sift the flour, baking powder and salt together,

Add the wet ingredients to this slowly and knead into a very soft dough. Make sure you do not knead it too much

You need to chill this for an hour or so. I chilled only for 30 minutes as my curiosity overtook me:-)

Roll the dough out uniformly , nearly 1/4″ thickness on a lightly floured board. Cut out cookies and place them on cookie sheet and bake these at 180C for 10 to 15 minutes( They look pale but will start browning at the sides)

Cool them on wire rack and when fully cooled store them in air tight containers or decorate them as you wish

My daughter had a gala of time helping me decorate these cookies. She loves colors and i can definitely say that she is my INSPIRATION

DOUGHNUT COOKIES

SIMPLE ROUND COOKIES

CRISPY SQUARE COOKIES

For the icing i have used eggless version by Veglicious

INGREDIENTS

Icing sugar 1/2 cup

Corn starch 1 1/2 tsp

Milk 1 to 2 tsp

Lemon juice 1 tsp

Food colors few drops

Sift the sugar and corn starch in a bowl.

Add the milk and the colors. Blend into a very fine paste

Put them in the icing bags with the necessary couplers and unleash your creativity.

This icing dries when left in open

For the detailed icing instruction do have a look at Daring bakers challenge page where Mandy has given the detailed instructions

I am going straight to see how the others bakers have decorated.Why don’t you join me!!!!

Veena