Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Chocolaty cookies with frosting that mirror my flower garden!

  Birthdays were the happiest occasions when I was young. (Between you and me, now they remind me that I'm not too far from wrinkles and white hair).  When in school, birthdays were the one day we could wear casual clothes to school, a change from the regular uniform.  I used to wait eagerly for my birthday to roll in to  show off my color dress (that's what we called casual clothes then) and distribute candy.  How things have changed now!

 For an example, when my daughter celebrated her birthday last week, it was different.   She wears casual clothes to school everyday, so then, how do you make it special?  She had an answer!  Dress up chocolate cookies, her favorite, for the occasion.  I am glad we decided to go with her instinct because the sugar cookies with frosting came out vibrant and festive.   

 To add to all that, since both my children helped to make the different shapes and frosting, it became a family event.  We had quite a good time in spite of all the spilling and mopping that comes with the territory of group activity.  It was with great restraint that we were all able to keep ourselves from licking. 

Which do you like the most? It's hard to choose, I know.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

My daughter would say the one with purple icing, since that's her favorite color.  I am partial to this one too, because it is my own creation.  I added blue and red in 2:1 proportion to get the desired result.    When you are trying keep adding more red if you think you need to soften the blue further.     
Chocolate Sugar Cookies


Did you notice the sprinkles are little butterflies? Oh, yeah! They are, and it made my daughter's heart flutter with excitement and squeal with delight, every time we sprinkled some on. Childhood, such a delightful time!

Ingredients:

For Cookies:

All purpose Flour- 2 3/4 cup
Cocoa powder (preferably Dutch processed)- 3/4 cup
Baking Powder- 1 tsp
Salted Butter- 1/2 cup
Unsalted Butter- 1/2 cup
Granulated white sugar- 1 1/2 cup
Eggs- 2
Pure vanilla extract- 2 tsp

For Icing :

See here
But if you are making the above amount of cookies you may have to make double the amount for icing, but the proportions are the same.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Method:

1.Mix the flour,cocoa powder and baking powder by whisking together them in a large mixing bowl.
2.Beat the butter and sugar well in a bowl,until smooth and soft.
3.Add the eggs one at a time and beat well.
4.Pour the vanilla extract and mix well.
5.Mix the wet and dry ingredients to make a dough.
6.Divide the dough into 2 or 4 equal parts and make disc shape and wrap them in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until they are firm enough to roll.
7.Preheat the oven at 350 degree F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
8.When the dough is ready, take one disc from the fridge and roll it on a flat surface until it is about 1/4 inch thick and cut it with a cookie cutter to get your favorite shapes.
9.Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets and chill them for at least 15 minutes. This helps the cookies to retain their shape while baking.
10.Bake them for 10-12 minutes and cool on a wire rac before you do the frosting.
11.Meanwhile prepare the next batch of cookies and chill them before baking.
12.Prepare the frosting by mixing everything together and spoon it on the cookies. Let it dry,this may take several hours. Store them in an airtight container.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Sending this to From My home Kitchen's Chocolaty Dreams event
AND
Champa's Bake Off event

Notes:

1. Butter should be at room Temperature.
2.You could use the normal cocoa powder, if you don't have Dutch processed.I used a mixture of both :-)
3.According to the original recipe, Royal Icing is recommended. But I didin't have any Meringue powder at home and didn't want to take any Salmonella risk, by using the raw egg whites.
4. Makes around 4 dozen.

Recipe Adapted From: Joy of Baking

Contributor: Namitha

46 comments:

  1. beautiful cookies! loved the little hearts and fishes!

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  2. Beautiful cookies, wonderful creations.

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  3. Lovely cookies. Do send something every week. I would be happy. Thanks.

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  4. Gorgeous cookies..kids will love to gobble it with fun....Adults too that's for sure...

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  5. Elegant cookies, looks very tempting and cute..!!

    US Masala

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  6. So cute, that was real fun and the kid must have enjoyed..they look a real treat.

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  7. Beautifully decorated cookies....Belated B'day wishes to ur little girl....

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  8. Gorgeous cookies. I too loved the purple icing.

    I'm not sure why the mail bounced. I even tried s test mail. Please do try again. Sorry for the trouble !!! In case of issues please let me know.

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  9. Cookies luk gr8 n m sure must b delicious too...very cute shapes n luvly decoration.

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  10. entha da ethu...look veryyyyyy cute cookies.....surely will try it for my kid.

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  11. Belated b'day wishes to meenukuttii:)Cookies look so cute.Love the color and decoration!

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  12. I hope meenu enjoyed her bday...sugar cookies looks so colourful and so beautiful...wish even i could have had some...

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  13. Looks like a colorful event...:) I can imagine the excitement when making all this with kids....
    I really miss my niece and nephew...I used to have tons of fun with them...

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  14. Cute cuter cutest are those cookies....looks so colorful

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  15. Cute and crispy cookies. Kids will love to have these.

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  16. Hi Gulmohar,

    lovely cookies..can have them any time...they look adorable...

    Dr.Sameena@

    www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

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  17. cookies looks so cute, love those wonderful shapes and colurs

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  18. wow.... incredibly colourful . Gorgeous cookies .

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  19. What lovely cute cookies! Those little butterflies somehow remind me of nostalgic memories!

    Nandini's Food Page

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  20. I loved the purple one too. but belieeve me all are so beautiful...Ur daughter must be so happy ...

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  21. chooo cute......butterflies look so beautiful.....

    Lavanya

    www.lavsblog.com

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  22. happy Birthday to your daughter! These cookies are just soooo pretty. I can't make up my mind which is my best cos all of them are! :D Thanks very much for sharing. MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com

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  23. Enikku vayya, kuttyde oru bhagyame :) Belated birthday wishes to her!! These cookies look so so cute...Loved all of them..

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  24. Hi, Those cookies are so cute and lovely. So adorable are your kids.

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  25. wooo i am just drooling...very nicly presented

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  26. Awesome...excellent group work I would say! I liked the heart-shaped! ;)

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  27. Looks fabulous nami!!True treat for kids..pinee evide ammuvum purple color fan..so meenu samepinchttoo...:-)

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  28. Your decorated cookies look absolutely beautiful.

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  29. oh they looks cute, and will go with ur daughter, loved the purple cookies and lil butterflies are adorable :)

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