Make the cutest sugar cookie chicks for Easter or spring time! They are so easy you could use a pre-made sugar cookie dough too.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED:
- 3 cups of flour (all purpose) - sifted
- 1 Tablespoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 ⅓ cups of butter - softened
- 2 cups of sugar (extra for pressing - yellow colored sugar may also be used if desired)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 1 - 2 teaspoons of Yellow food coloring gel (I used Wilton)
- Small black candy balls (for eyes)
FOR THE ICING:
- 1 cup of powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of Milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1 teaspoon Orange food coloring gel
- Makes approximately 32 chick cookies (depending on size of balls)
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium mixing bowl, sift the flour until it's a very fine texture. Blend in the baking powder and salt, and sift again; set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the butter and sugar with the whisk attachment until its light and fluffy, and completely blended. Add the eggs and vanilla, and blend again until all ingredients are mixed, then add the food coloring, and mix until all ingredients are a bright yellow (When you add the flour the cookies will be lighter, so make the mixture really bright yellow). Add the flour mixture a little at a time until all flour has been well blended, and all ingredients are incorporated together. Remove the mixing bowl from the stand mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and blend any remaining ingredients into the mixture. Place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. After cookie mixture has chilled, remove from refrigerator, and divide the dough in half. Make one half of the dough into 2 inch balls, and the other half into 1 inch balls. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and place one of the 2 inch balls on the paper, and one of the 1 inch balls right at the top of it. Put some sugar in a small bowl or dish, and dip the bottom of a flat glass into the sugar and press the two inch ball to flatten it with the bottom of the glass. Repeat the same step (glass in sugar and press cookies) until all the cookies have been pressed flat, and make sure the small ball and the larger ball have been pressed together so there's no gap between them. (OPTIONAL - you can also use yellow sugars to press the cookies) Place the cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cookies turn slightly golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. When cookies have cooled completely, cookies are ready to decorate.
Make the frosting by combining all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing with a spoon or whisk between each addition. Make the frosting as bright as you'd like for the chicks. Place the frosting in a pastry bag with the small pointed tip, and carefully pipe the feet onto the cookies (see photo). Pipe on the beaks using a triangle shape and filling it in with the frosting. Place a dot of frosting for each eye, and immediately add the black candy balls for the chicks eyes. You can add another triangle at the top of the chicks head. Cookies shown both ways. Or, you can use other decorating methods for the cookies if you prefer. Let frosting dry, or set on cookies for at least 2 hours. Place cookies on plates or trays, and serve, or place in a covered container, carefully layering waxed paper between cookie's if stacking. Enjoy
