Low Fat Holiday Sugar Cookies With Icing That Hardens Recipes

GLOSSY SUGAR COOKIE ICING (THAT HARDENS)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, sift confectioners sugar and then combine with light corn syrup, milk or water, and clear extract flavoring. Stir until smooth and the icing has reached your desired consistency.
• For flooding and dipping, use a consistency that sticks well to your spoon and icing 'drops' off slowly.
• For a light glaze that is somewhat transparent, use a consistency that runs off slowly from your spoon but also leaves a good clear coating on the spoon.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

SUGAR COOKIE ICING

Steps:

• Stir together the sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, corn syrup, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl until combined.(If icing is too thick, add the remaining tablespoon of milk, until the icing is thick but pipeable. If it's too thin, add a little more powdered sugar until desired texture is reached. If you drizzle a little of the icing with a whisk, the ribbon of icing will hold for a few seconds before melting back into the icing. That is when you know it's the right consistency and is ready to use.)
• If coloring the icing with different colors, divide into bowls and color as desired at this point.
• Transfer icing to a piping bag with a piping tip (I use Wilton 5.)
• Pipe icing onto cookies and decorate, as desired. (If using sanding sugar or sprinkles, they need to be added before the icing starts to set.)
• Allow icing to completely harden at room temperature before enjoying (this can take anywhere from 3 hours to overnight depending on the consistency and thickness of your icing.)
• NOTE: Don't miss all the coloring and decorating tips in the full article!
• NOTE: This recipe makes enough to decorate 40, 3-inch cookies. Calories calculated are for the icing only and do not include cookies.

LOW-FAT HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES WITH ICING THAT HARDENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Beat margarine and sugar until well mixed, adding egg white and vanilla as you go.
• Whisk baking powder, flour, tartar, and salt in another bowl. Mix bit-by-bit into egg mixture, not adding any more if the dough is too thick.
• Knead dough 3-5 times on heavily floured surface until smooth and at your desired consistency.
• Roll dough out on the heavily floured surface with a floured rolling pin, and cut shapes out. Place them on a cookie sheet, covered in parchment paper. (Don't sub the parchment paper for oil, butter, or cooking spray. Bottoms will crisp).
• Bake in oven for 7-10 minutes until tops of cookies have firmed, checking every few minutes to make sure they don't brown (these are best light and soft).
• Take out of oven and place on cooling rack.
• While cooling, mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and vanilla until shiny.
• Add food colouring to icing if you wish, and ice the cookies once they have cooled. ENJOY!

HEALTHIER SUGAR COOKIE ICING

Steps:

• Combine white sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, simmering until dissolved and a sugar syrup is created, about 5 minutes.
• Stir together confectioner's sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Beat in almond extract and 2 teaspoons of sugar syrup until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more sugar syrup.
• Optional: Divide icing into separate bowls and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies or paint them with a brush.

COOKIE ICING/FROSTING THAT HARDENS

Steps:

• VERY IMPORTANT; the confectioners sugar must be sifted before using.
• In a bowl beat the sifted confectioners sugar with milk until smooth.
• Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until smooth and glossy (if icing is too thick add in a small amount of corn syrup).
• Divide into as many separate bowls as desired.
• Add in different food coloring to each bowl beating/whisking until the intensity is achieved.
• Paint the icing over the cookies using a brush or dip the cookie edges into icing (this will set quite quickly).
• Place cookies on waxed paper to dry.

HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon peel and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Shape into three 10-in. rolls; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm., Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks., In a large bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk and food coloring until smooth; transfer to a resealable plastic bag; drizzle over cookies in the shape of a Christmas tree. Place one Red Hot at the top of each tree.

ROYAL ICING FOR HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix sugar, water, and meringue powder with a mixer on low speed until smooth, about 7 minutes. Icing should be the consistency of glue. (If icing is too thick, mix in a little more water. If icing is too thin, add more confectioners' sugar.) Add food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired color is achieved; if making more than 1 color, divide icing and work in batches. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Stir before using.