Thick Cut Outs Recipes

SOFT CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be relatively soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.
• Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the 2nd rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. If it's sticking to the bottom, run your hand under it to help remove it- see me do this in the video above. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with 2nd piece of dough. (Note: It doesn't seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)
• Arrange cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
• Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing or easy glaze icing. Feel free to tint either icing with gel food coloring. See post above for recommended decorating tools. No need to cover the decorated cookies as you wait for the icing to set. If it's helpful, decorate the cookies directly on a baking sheet so you can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help speed up the icing setting.
• Enjoy cookies right away or wait until the icing sets to serve them. Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. Plain or decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days when covered tightly at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

THICK CUT-OUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each. Mix in vanilla extract. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough and chill for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
• To make frosting, mix together the confectioners' sugar, oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. gradually add enough hot water to achieve a spreadable consistency. Spread over warm cookies.

SUGAR COOKIE CUTOUTS

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.
• Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Divide dough in half; flatten each half into a disk. Wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. Let one disk of dough stand at room temperature just until soft enough to roll, about 10 minutes. Roll out dough between two pieces of plastic wrap to 1/4 inch thick. Remove top layer of plastic wrap. Cut out cookies with a 4-inch one-piece-shaped cookie cutter. To make an ornament, cut out a hole from the center of the neck about 1/4-inch from the edge using a straw. Transfer cookie dough on plastic wrap to a baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to freezer, freeze until very firm, about 15 minutes. Remove baking sheet from freezer and transfer shapes to baking sheets lined with nonstick baking mats. Roll out scraps, and repeat. Repeat with remaining disk of dough.
• Bake, switching positions of sheets and rotating halfway through, until edges turn golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

THICK SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, egg yolks and extracts. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Shape into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake until edges begin to brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, butter, shortening, extracts and enough milk to reach desired consistency. Spread over cookies. If desired, sprinkle with nonpareils.

CUT-OUT BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse to combine. Pulse in the diced butter just a few times, until it is in pea-size pieces.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the milk or buttermilk until the dough just comes together but is not fully combined. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, then gather the dough together and pat into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle (5 by 10 inches). Fold the rectangle in half and pat until 3/4 inch thick again. Repeat the folding and patting process 4 more times, ending with a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle (5 by 10 inches).
• Dip a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and cut out 8 biscuits, going all the way to the edge of the rectangle (don't leave any space between the biscuits when you cut). Gather the scraps together, kneading as little as possible; pat until 3/4 inch thick and cut out about 2 more biscuits. (Alternatively, use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 2 1/2-inch squares.)
• Place the biscuits on an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Brush the tops lightly with milk or buttermilk. Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Mash butter with dill, capers, lemon zest and juice.
• Puree butter with mango chutney and curry powder.
• Puree butter with maple syrup and adobo sauce.

SOFT MOLASSES CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until easy to handle. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with 2-1/2-in. cookie cutters dipped in flour. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. , Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool. Frost or dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

THICK CUT-OUT COOKIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture.
• Cover dough and chill for at least one hour.
• Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
• Place 2 inches apart on to the greased baking sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
• Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make frosting, mix together the confectioners' sugar, oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
• Gradually add enough hot water to achieve a spreadable consistency.