Flower Sugar Cookie Recipes

Steps:

• For the cookies: Beat the butter in a large bowl with a handheld mixer until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add brown sugar, and continue beating until light, 2 to 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until smooth. Gradually add the 2 cups flour and salt while mixing slowly to make a rough dough. Press dough into a ball by hand. Lightly dust the cookie dough with flour and roll it between 2 pieces of waxed paper into a 1/4-inch-thick disk. Slide the disk in the paper onto a cookie sheet and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes (or refrigerate about 1 hour).
• Evenly space the racks in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Transfer the dough to the work surface and remove the top sheet of paper. Cut into cookies with a 4-inch flower or other decorative cutter and transfer them to a parchment-lined or nonstick baking sheet. Press excess dough together and roll and cut into cookies as well. Bake until cookies' edges are golden, about 20 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• For the icing: Whisk the water and egg white powder in a medium bowl until foamy and smooth. Gradually whisk in the confectioners' sugar to make a smooth icing. Spread a layer of icing over the entire surface of the cookies (or just in the center, if desired) with the back of a teaspoon. Place sprinkles, chocolate chips, or candies in the center of the cookies. Let rest until the icing sets, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium; add eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture gradually, beating until incorporated. Shape dough into 2 disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Place 4 or 5 skewers on a parchment-lined baking sheet, alternating the direction the tips are pointed. Repeat with remaining skewers.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Let 1 disk of dough stand at room temperature until just soft enough to roll, about 10 minutes. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4- to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out shapes using a 3 3/4-inch flower cookie cutter (kitchengifts.com). Transfer to baking sheets, placing each cookie on a skewer, covering 2 inches of the skewer end. Gently press cookies down. (Cookies will stick once they are baked.) Roll out scraps once, and repeat. Repeat with remaining disk of dough. Freeze until cookies are firm, 15 minutes.
• Bake in batches, switching and rotating sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies turn golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
• Spoon royal icing into a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip, and decorate cookies. Let stand overnight or until icing dries completely.

Steps:

• Roll room-temperature dough (for a blush hue, add 1 or 2 drops of pink food coloring) into 1-inch balls.
• Cut 6 evenly spaced radial slits in each, about three-quarters of the way to the center.
• Press a finger into the centers to spread out the petals, then drop a candy in each indentation.
• Before baking, refrigerate on a parchment-lined baking sheet until firm. Bake according to the recipe.