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Time Required :
About an hour
Intermediate
Intermediate
You're somewhat experienced with the skills necessary to complete this project, but you haven't mastered all the elements, yet.

whimsical holiday cookies

Create these whimsical holiday cookies by Sam U. of @aww.sam with standard cookie cutters and a creative use of food colouring!
Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels

Print Project

Step 1

Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

Whisk together flour and salt in a small bowl.

Step 3

In the bowl of a mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add sugar, and continue to beat until pale and fluffy, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes more.

Step 5

Beat in vanilla.

Step 6

Add flour mixture, and mix on low speed, scraping sides if necessary, until flour is just incorporated, and dough sticks together when squeezed with fingers.

Step 7

Turn out dough, forming into two disks; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

Step 8

Knead your two disks, then split one disc into three equal parts.

Step 9

Mix a few drops of yellow and blue food colouring to create green dye. Add a few drops of the green dye to the largest dough disc and work into the dough until a desired shade is reached.
TIP: The dough will darken slightly as it cools, so keep that in mind as you dye each colour.

Step 10

Apply colouring to your remaining three discs as these will be the colour of your ornaments/tree lights. Colour one disc yellow and colour the other discs with colours of your own choosing.

Step 11

Once colour is incorporated, roll out your green dough into about ¼" [0.64 cm] thickness.

Step 12

Gently indent your dough with your cookie cutter to give you the outline on which you will decorate your tree.

Step 13

Place a small piece of yellow dough for the star on top of your tree (the cookie cutter will shape the outer edge of the star, and make small circles from your other colours and place them on your tree to look like a string of ornaments.

Step 14

After you have decorated all your cookies, place them in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to stiffen up, this will make them easier to cut out of your dough. Line up the cookie cutter to the light indentation made in Step 12 and cut completely cut through the dough to form your final cookie shapes.
TIP: With your leftover dough you can make fun marbled designs and make even more cookies!

Step 15

Preheat the oven to 325°F [162°C].

Step 16

Transfer cut out cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
TIP: You can refrigerate the cookies again for about 15-20 mins to prevent the cookies from expanding too much while cooking!

Step 17

Bake until firm and golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
TIP: Repeat this process with cookie cutters in other shapes, like ornaments and snowmen.

Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels

Supplies
Materials
Materials
 
  • img
    You’ll Need: 1

    Parchment Paper Roll by Celebrate It®

    Item # 10076247 
    Save 40% off One Regular Price Item with code 7242440- Exclusions apply See Details See Details
    Limit one coupon per product. Limit one coupon of each type per day. Limited to stock on hand. Void where prohibited. Valid only in Canada. EXCLUSIONS: Everyday Value program, clearance; buy & get items; custom framing; beverages & candy; books & magazines; classes; gift cards; craft technology machines; Cricut, Silhouette; Elf On The Shelf Storybook Sets; Lemax. Exclusions subject to change. See Team Member for details.
    $11.99
 
Tools
Tools
 
  • img
    You’ll Need: 1

    Cooling Rack by Celebrate It™

    Item # 10058219 
    Save 40% off One Regular Price Item with code 7242440- Exclusions apply See Details See Details
    Limit one coupon per product. Limit one coupon of each type per day. Limited to stock on hand. Void where prohibited. Valid only in Canada. EXCLUSIONS: Everyday Value program, clearance; buy & get items; custom framing; beverages & candy; books & magazines; classes; gift cards; craft technology machines; Cricut, Silhouette; Elf On The Shelf Storybook Sets; Lemax. Exclusions subject to change. See Team Member for details.
    $17.99
 
You’ll Also Need
  • 2 C. All-Purpose Flour
  • ¾ Tsp. Salt
  • 8 oz. Unsalted Butter at Room Temperature
  • ½ C. Confectioner's Sugar
  • 1 Tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Whisk
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Mixer with Bow and Paddle Attachment
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Refrigerator
  • Oven
Instructions
Step 1

Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

Whisk together flour and salt in a small bowl.

Step 3

In the bowl of a mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add sugar, and continue to beat until pale and fluffy, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes more.

Step 5

Beat in vanilla.

Step 6

Add flour mixture, and mix on low speed, scraping sides if necessary, until flour is just incorporated, and dough sticks together when squeezed with fingers.

Step 7

Turn out dough, forming into two disks; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

Step 8

Knead your two disks, then split one disc into three equal parts.

Step 9

Mix a few drops of yellow and blue food colouring to create green dye. Add a few drops of the green dye to the largest dough disc and work into the dough until a desired shade is reached.
TIP: The dough will darken slightly as it cools, so keep that in mind as you dye each colour.

Step 10

Apply colouring to your remaining three discs as these will be the colour of your ornaments/tree lights. Colour one disc yellow and colour the other discs with colours of your own choosing.

Step 11

Once colour is incorporated, roll out your green dough into about ¼" [0.64 cm] thickness.

Step 12

Gently indent your dough with your cookie cutter to give you the outline on which you will decorate your tree.

Step 13

Place a small piece of yellow dough for the star on top of your tree (the cookie cutter will shape the outer edge of the star, and make small circles from your other colours and place them on your tree to look like a string of ornaments.

Step 14

After you have decorated all your cookies, place them in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to stiffen up, this will make them easier to cut out of your dough. Line up the cookie cutter to the light indentation made in Step 12 and cut completely cut through the dough to form your final cookie shapes.
TIP: With your leftover dough you can make fun marbled designs and make even more cookies!

Step 15

Preheat the oven to 325°F [162°C].

Step 16

Transfer cut out cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
TIP: You can refrigerate the cookies again for about 15-20 mins to prevent the cookies from expanding too much while cooking!

Step 17

Bake until firm and golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
TIP: Repeat this process with cookie cutters in other shapes, like ornaments and snowmen.

Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels

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