Sandra Lees Christmas Sugar Cookie Cake Recipes

LEMON SUGAR COOKIES WITH SANDY'S COLORED SUGAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the lemon zest and juice and mix well. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to butter mixture and mix to combine. Shape into a log and wrap in heavy-duty plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Divide the sugar between 2 small resealable plastic bags. Add 8 to 10 drops of 1 color of food coloring to each bag. Shake vigorously to distribute and color the sugar. Put the colored sugar into 2 separate plates.
• Slice the log into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Dip the cookies on 1 side into the sugar, making 12 of each color. Arrange the cookies on baking sheets, spacing evenly, and bake until lightly browned, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, then remove the cookies from the pans. Cool completely on wire racks before serving.

SNOW FLAKES AND PEACE DOVES CUT-OUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the cookie mix with the cream cheese until crumbly. Mix in the eggs and flavoring until well combined. Add enough flour to make a firm dough that can be rolled out. Roll dough out on lightly floured board to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out snow flakes, doves, or other desired shapes.
• Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes.
• While the cookies are baking, make the icing by combining powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 1 teaspoon of water at a time until it reaches desired consistency.
• Decorate cookies with royal icing. Allow to dry for 1 hour.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE COOKIE CAKE

Steps:

• Line 1 (9-inch) cake pan with plastic wrap, with 3 inches overhanging. Spread softened ice cream into lined pan in a smooth, even layer. Freeze for 3 hours, or until frozen solid.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter and flour 2 (10-inch) round cake pans and set aside. In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until well blended. Using a spatula, divide batter between the 2 prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each pan to loosen cakes and remove from pans.
• While cakes are cooling, heat heavy cream in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat until bubbling around the edges. Remove pan from heat, add chocolate morsels, and stir with a whisk until smooth. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, until cool and slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Spread ganache on top of and around sides of both cake layers, keeping layers separate and not fitting together yet. Refrigerate entire cake for 1 hour, or until ganache is set.
• Place 1 cake layer, ganache side up, on a serving platter. Remove ice cream from pan, peel off plastic wrap, and place on top of cake layer. Place second cake layer on top of ice cream, ganache side up. Freeze until ready to serve, but let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before seving.