This month’s Home Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Priya of Cook Like Priya. Since December is the month of Christmas, she suggested three cookie recipes, two cakes and two bread recipes; participants could choose any one. I was drawn to the colorful snowman cookies and decided to give them a try. They turned out crisp, buttery and delicious — my daughter adored them. The kitchen smelled amazing while they were baking. The dough is simple to make, though shaping the little figures takes patience. The recipe yields more than 20 cookies.
While the cookies were in the oven I had visitors and got distracted, so a few of them browned a touch more than planned. Despite that, the flavor remained fantastic. Some cookies developed small cracks on top; they still tasted great even if the surfaces weren’t perfectly smooth. These snowman cookies may not be picture-perfect, but they’re charming and would be a hit at parties — especially at a child’s birthday, where they’re sure to attract attention.
Recipe Source: Taste Of Home
Ingredients:
1 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp water
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Red and green food colouring
Procedure:
1. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
2. Add the water and almond extract, and beat until incorporated.
3. Gradually add the flour and mix until you form a soft dough. Avoid overworking it.
4. Remove about 1/3 cup of the dough to a small bowl, add red food colouring and knead until evenly coloured. Set aside.
5. Take another 1/3 cup of dough to a separate bowl, add green food colouring and mix well.
6. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
7. Grease a baking tray lightly with butter or line it with parchment paper.
8. Shape each cookie by rolling a small ball for the head and a slightly larger ball for the body; press both lightly to flatten.
9. Place the smaller disc on top of the larger one to form the snowman.
10. Use the green dough to form a small hat and position it on the head.
11. Roll thin ropes from the red and green dough, twist them together, and place the twisted rope below the head to create a scarf.
12. For the face, use a tiny dot of black (or dark food colouring) for the eyes and a small dash of red thinned with a little water for the mouth.
13. Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and just beginning to colour.
14. Remove the tray from the oven and let the cookies cool in the pan for about 10 minutes so they firm up slightly.
15. Gently transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
16. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to keep them crisp.
Beat together butter, sugar, almond extract and water until creamy.
Add the flour to make a soft, workable dough.
Prepare a soft dough and divide portions for colouring.
Colour small portions of dough red and green for hats and scarves.
Shape the uncoloured dough into head and body discs.
Use coloured dough to make tiny hats and decorate each snowman.
Twist two thin ropes of coloured dough together to make a scarf.
Place the twisted rope around the neck area to form the scarf.
Draw tiny eyes and a mouth with black and red food colouring.
Add tiny buttons or other small details to personalize each cookie.
Bake until just done and allow to cool before serving.
Enjoy your homemade snowman butter cookies — crisp, buttery and festive!