Decorating "My Sugar Punkin Cookies!"

So, when I was at Michael's last week, I found a pumpkin cookie decorating kit for $4.99. How could I pass it up? So, last night I told Atticus we were going to make and decorate sugar cookies today. Of course, the first thing he says this morning when he wakes up is "where my sugar punkin cookies?"

So, after Grace went down for her morning nap, we made sugar cookies and decorated them. In case you were wondering, here are the required steps for making "sugar punkin cookies".

Step 1: Place butter & sugar in the mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add eggs and mix.

 

Step 3: Taste test the batter.

Step 4: Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl and then add to mixture in bowl.

 

 Step 5: Lick the mixing bowl beater.

 Step 6: Roll out the cookie dough.

 Step 7: Taste test again to make sure the cookie dough is still good.

 Step 8: Cut out "punkin" cookies.

 Step 9: Bake cookies and continue to ask "Where my sugar punkin cookies?" as they bake.

 Step 10: Smile for the camera.

Step 11: Use up leftover cookie dough by adding some chocolate chips. 



Step 12: Let mama ice the cookies because the icing bag is "too hot; need to cool off". But, then start adding a few "spinkles".

Step 13: Start out putting "spinkles" on very carefully but then dump the entire jar out to make it easier to use them.

Step 14: Let mama ice all of the cookies while you lick the icing off and ask for more icing. Also, be sure to use way more sprinkles than necessary. (I promise that I kept his cookies to the side and saved the rest from his little sticky fingers.)

 Step 15: Eat cookies!

And if you'd like the sugar cookie recipe, here it is:

Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar (I use sugar that I've stored vanilla beans in)
2 sticks (salted) butter, cold & cut into chunks
1 egg
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine the flour and baking powder, set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together with your hands as you scoop it out of the bowl for rolling.

Roll on a floured surface to about 1/4" to 3/8" thick, and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets (I recommend freezing the cut-out shape on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking) and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.