Fancy Flours: Where Bakers Bloom

The secret to royal icing is in the consistency. Fortunately, royal icing is very forgiving. Does it seem to thick? Add a few drops of liquid at a time to thin it down. Is it too thin? Add a small amounts of confectioners’ sugar and stir until you get it thick enough.

Makes 2 cups
1 pound confectioners sugar, sifted
5 tablespoons meringue powder
1/2 cup of water

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until smooth and creamy, about 7 to 10 minutes. If icing is too thick, add more water. If too thin, beat icing 2 to 3 minutes more.

Color icing with desired food colors by blending a drop of coloring into the icing. Gradually blend additional drops until you achieve the desired color.

Delicious Sugar Cookie Recipe
6 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
2 cups butter (4 sticks)
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

This is a great recipe when using cookie cutters. It doesnt spread! Your cookies will be the same shape after you bake them as they were before.

Note that this recipe makes up to 8 dozen 3 cookies, but it is easy to cut in half.

Cream sugar and butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and flavoring. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl and add to butter mixture. Mix well.

Put a handful of the freshly made dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll to desired thickness. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Put the rolled dough, including the parchment paper, on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes or longer. Your dough will be chilled and ready to cut and bake with no wait and no added flour! Repeat the process with scraps after cutting cookies.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on rack.