Farmyard butter cookies - house beautiful

6 dozen

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 cups Butter, room temperature
2 cups Sugar
4 Eggs
2 tablespoons Vanilla extract
6 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking soda
2 teaspoons Salt
Royal icing, recipe follows
Paste food coloring, available at cake supply stores

Directions

In an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and vanilla extract and blend well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, beating slowly until well incorporated. Batter will be sticky.

Turn one-third of the batter at a time onto a piece of plastic wrap, enclose and pat into a rectangular shape. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Dough can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Roll dough out I/s-inch thick, one piece at a time, on a floured board with a floured rolling pin. Dip 2-inch farmyard cookie cutters into flour and cut out shapes. Place dough on parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake in a preheated 350' oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden. Cool cookies on wire racks. Makes about 6 to 7 dozen cookies.

Divide icing into several bowls and tint each portion with desired color. Fill pastry bags half-full with icings, fit with #2 decorative tips and pipe designs. Cookies need to set at least 12 hours after decorating before storing in airtight containers.

See Royal Icing.

House Beautiful/April/94 Scanned & fixed by DP & GG

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