The dough is pressed into the molds and baked.
Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - Cookie Mold Pan, brush each well with Pan Release Mix. (equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour) I start with 1 C of each, mixed well and refrigerated in a jar. I always have it available for all of my baking needs.
5 1/2 C Flour + additional for dusting.
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp Salt
4 tsp Ground Ginger
4 tsp Cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
1 tsp Nutmeg
16 TBS (2 sticks) unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 C Granulated Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 C Honey
1/2 C Molasses
2 1/2 C Royal Icing (recipes to follow)
In a medium bowl:
Flour
Baking Soda
Salt
Ginger
Cinnamon
Clove
Nutmeg
Whisk well.
In a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer on medium speed:
Butter
Sugar
Beat until well combined.
Add:
Eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Add:
Honey
Molasses
Beat just until combined.
Divide the dough into three portions and wrap them in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Use a 1 1/2" cookie scoop and press into the cookie pan molds.
Bake for 9 minutes. (depending on your oven, you may have to rotate the pan half way through the baking time)
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
Un mold the cookies.
Transfer to the rack to cool completely.
Decorate the cookies with Royal Icing.
Store the cookies in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper.
NOTE:
Use Icing immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Cover the top of the icing with a piece of plastic wrap to prevent drying.
Stir well with a rubber spatula just before using.
There are so many recipes for Royal Icing. It's the best icing to decorate detailed designs on a cookie. I use it for decorated Christmas Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cookies.
This recipe makes 2 1/2 C.
It can be separated into different bowls and tinted with food coloring to make creative designs. Since I'm The Hippy in the Kitchen and an Artist, I love to create cookie designs with my 60's looking Doodles. I have several Doodle Books that I am continuously updating with new designs.
This recipe is the consistency to be used for outlining and for detailed designs. To flood the cookie, thin the recipe with just a bit of warm water, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached. I also prefer this recipe because it doesn't use raw eggs.
Here's my favorite recipe for Royal Icing:
This is the recipe for decorating the cookies. (flooding recipe to follow)
1 pound of Confectioner's Sugar
5 TBS Meringue Powder
1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Warm Water
Powdered Food Coloring
In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle attachment:
Stir together by hand:
Sugar
Meringue Powder
Cream of Tartar
Add:
Gradually add Water until desired consistency.
Vanilla
Beat on Low just until combined well.
Beat on High for 7 - 10 minutes.
Separate the icing into bowls and tint with food coloring.
If you're not using it immediately, gently lay a piece of damp paper towel onto the surface of the icing in each bowl.
Royal Icing for Flooding:
2 lbs. Confectioner's Sugar
3/4 C Water
4 tsp Meringue Powder
Whisk well, by hand until completely incorporated.
Use disposable piping bags to flood the cookies.
Outline the entire cookie with icing, fill in the center. Use a toothpick
and swirl the icing all over the cookie. Allow to sit and harden.
I took a French Macarons Class at Sur la Table in Dallas and they recommended:
Lorann's Gourmet Professional Quality Food Coloring. It's the only food coloring I use.
Enjoy!
Decorating your Holiday Cookies!
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