Recipe: Soft & Yummy Frosted Sugar Cutout Cookies

Most little bakeries don't give out their recipes. But I do. This is my favorite sugar cookie hands down! It's not overly sweet, but has the perfect amount of sweetness.

 

Sugar Cutout Cookies

1 c. shortening

2-1/4 c. granulated sugar

4 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder

1 c. sour cream

6 c. flour

Directions:

1. Using whip attachment, beat shortening and sugar together until well blended. Add in beaten eggs, two at a time. Add salt, vanilla, baking powder, and sour cream.  
2. Using paddle attachment, add flour one cup at a time and mix after each addition. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl and mix until consistent throughout.
3. Scrape dough into smaller metal bowl and wrap with plastic wrap. Place in fridge to chill for 2+ hours. 
4. Roll out 1/4" thick and cut with cookie cutter. Place cookies 1" apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
   
5. Bake for 8 minutes at 375 degrees (or 350 degrees convection--I always use convection). They will not brown. Do not overbake. These cookies should remain soft.
   
6. Allow to cool before placing in airtight container.
7. Can be frozen up to 2 weeks. To thaw, place container on counter for 2 hours.

 

Cream Cheese Butter Cream Frosting (Stabilized)

8 oz. cream cheese, cold

1/2 c. butter, room temperature (not melted)

3 c. powdered sugar

1/2 t. butter vanilla emulsion

1/4 t. almond flavoring

2-1/4 t. meringue powder (optional)

Directions

1. In a KitchenAid or using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. (You won't be able to beat the lumps out once you've added the powdered sugar.)

2. Add powdered sugar 1 c. at a time. (To stabilize to the point of crusting, add 1 T. meringue powder per 1 lb powdered sugar, or about 2-1/4 tsp for this recipe.)

3. Mix in flavoring. Add desired gel food coloring.
   

4. Whip until fluffy and smooth, about 6-10 minutes.

5. Spoon into piping bag.

For royal icing, I use this recipe from PreppyKitchen.com, which also includes a helpful YouTube video of the process.

Yummy Frostings for Hecka Good Cinnamon Rolls

 

Two yummy frostings to try on my Hecka Good Cinnamon Rolls: cream cheese frosting and maple buttercream.

The cream cheese frosting is a classic taste that you can NOT go wrong with. You can smear a thin layer on for less sweet (or less calories), or you can dollop the frosting on top for a rich flavor. (Get my cream cheese frosting recipe here.)

Or...

You can try maple buttercream. The maple tends to overpower the cinnamon flavor of the roll, so I suggest a thin smear of frosting unless you want to power up your maple flavor. (Get my maple buttercream recipe here.)

Both are yummy, but it depends on the taste you're in the mood for. 

For what it's worth, I'm totally not sad I tried both on the same cinnamon roll.

Recipe: Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, cold

1/2 c. butter, room temperature (not melted)

2-3 c. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/4 t. to 1/2 t. almond extract, optional

 

Instructions:

1. In a KitchenAid or using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. (You won't be able to beat the lumps out once you've added the powdered sugar.)
   

2. Add powdered sugar 1 c. at a time. (For already sweet desserts, like cinnamon rolls, I only use 2 c. powdered sugar; if you're frosting something, and you want the frosting to be the main hit, use closer to 3 c. powdered sugar.)

3. Mix in vanilla (and optional almond extract).*

*I like to add almond extract for frosting sugar cookies, sugar cookie bars, and cupcakes. I do not add almond extract if I'm frosting cinnamon rolls.

 

 

Buttery Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

4 oz. cream cheese, cold

1/2 c. butter, room temperature (not melted)

2-3 c. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

milk (optional)

Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix well. Mix in vanilla.

Cook’s Note: If using this on top of cinnamon rolls, you can add a few drops of milk to reach desired consistency.

Recipe: Maple Buttercream Frosting

If you want to level-up your donuts or cupcakes, or even your French toast, this is the right decision. My oldest daughter spreads it between two pieces of French toast and eats it like a sammie, food-boss style. *I woke up and dreamed up the most incredible stuffed French toast with maple buttercream frosting, and then I found that I had, in fact, not invented maple buttercream. Here is the recipe the way I make it.

Maple Buttercream Frosting

 

Ingredients:

1 c. butter, room temperature (I use salted butter)

3 c. powdered sugar (for a less buttery taste, add up to 3/4 c. more)

1 t. vanilla extract, no fake stuff

1 t. maple extract or mapleine

 

Instructions:

1. Beat butter and add powdered sugar one cup at a time until well blended.

2. Mix in vanilla and maple extracts.

3. Beat mixture for several minutes until light and fluffy.

Cook’s Note: You can put it in a piping bag and pipe onto your baked goods, or you can spread it on with a knife or spatula. If using on French toast, let toasts cool slightly or mixture will melt too much. Do not use real maple syrup if you want a true buttercream frosting because it will be runny, from what I have read. Also, I do not like real maple syrup anyway (Team Log Cabin!), so I am biased.

Pairing ideas: use on donuts, chocolate cupcakes, carrot/spice cake, homemade gingersnaps, sugar cookies; French toast, pancakes, crepes; baked sweet potatoes, cooked carrots.

This tastes freaking amazing on these homemade donuts. Just skip the maple icing and pipe on this maple buttercream instead. 

Recipe: Butter Rich Frosting

Butter Rich Frosting for Velvet Cake
We got this recipe from my Grandmother, Helen Wride (a fantastic cook)

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons cake flour
1 cup milk
1 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cubes butter, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Whisk flour and milk in a saucepan until no lumps remain. Heat over medium heat until thick (like paste) Spread on a plate to cool. In another bowl, cream butter, vanilla and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cooled mixture and beat well.

Cook’s note: It is rumored that a man visited the Waldorf Astoria Hotel Dining Room in New York and while there he ordered a piece of Red Velvet Cake. He enjoyed the cake so much that when he was finished, he asked for the recipe. Later he received a bill in the mail for $1000 for the recipe. After paying the bill, he published the recipe for all to use. Don’t know if it’s true, but it’s a great story.