Funny Face Cookies Cookie Mix Recipes

BASIC COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cream the butter in a large bowl with a wooden spoon or in a stand mixer until it is soft. Add the sugar and keep beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Sift in the flour and add the optional ingredients, if you're using them. Bring the mixture together with your hands in a figure-of-eight motion until it forms a dough. You can freeze the dough at this point.
• Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and place them slightly apart from each other on a baking sheet (you don't need to butter or line it). Flatten the balls a little with the palm of your hand and bake them in the oven for around 10-12 mins until they are golden brown and slightly firm on top. Leave the cookies on a cooling rack for around 15 mins before serving.

BASIC COOKIE MIX

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients.
• Sift the mixture twice.
• Store in a tightly covered, labeled container for up to 3 months in a cool, dry place.
• For Sugar Cookies use: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
• With lightly floured hands, shape the dough into 1" balls; arrange them about 2" apart on 2 lightly greased 13" X 9" baking sheets Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
• Let cool for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheets; using a spatula, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 1 wk.
• For Chocolate Chip Cookies use: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, combine the Basic Cookie Mix, butter, egg, and vanilla.
• Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, distributing them well.
• With lightly floured hands, shape the dough into 1" balls; arrange them about 2" apart on 2 lightly greased 13" X 9" baking sheets Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
• Let cool for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheets; using a spatula, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 1 wk.

FUNNY FACE COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in the yolk, vanilla and zest. Sift the flour and salt into the bowl, then stir in to make a soft dough. Split into two flat discs, then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins, or until firm but not rock hard. Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.
• Flour the work surface, then roll the dough to 5mm thick. Stamp the dough with an 8cm round cutter, then re-rolling any trimmings. Using the same cutter, cut a crescent moon and a pointy oval shape from each circle. Pinch the corners of the oval and indent the top and bottom to make lips. For moustaches, shape the half moon, pressing a dent into the top of the curve, then tweak and pinch the ends to make a moustache.
• Chill for 10 mins, or until firm, then poke cake pop sticks carefully into the dough. I find putting one hand on top of the dough as I insert the stick with the other prevents the stick from popping through the surface of the dough.
• Bake for 12 mins, one tray at a time, until pale golden. Leave on the tray for 5 mins before lifting to a wire rack (use a palette knife rather than the sticks) and cooling completely. Make the icing by beating the egg white and the sugar until thick and smooth. Divide into four batches and colour them two shades of pink and two of brown. Spoon the darker icings into disposable piping bags and snip off the tips (or use a number 2 nozzle).
• Pipe moustache and lip outlines onto the cookies. Dry for a few mins. Now loosen the paler icings with a few drops of water until runny. Spoon a little onto each cookie and let it flood to the outline, nudging it up to the edge if needed, using a cocktail stick or tip of a teaspoon. Dry for 10 mins, then pipe a darker mouth line onto the lips, and zig-zagged lines over the moustaches. Sprinkle with glitter if using, and leave to set.