Puzzle Cookies Recipes

COOKIE PUZZLES

Steps:

• Roll out sugar-cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick on floured parchment paper; trim into a rectangle. Slide onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F until golden, about 12 minutes. While the cookie is still warm, cut into quarters with a paring knife, then cut each quarter into puzzle pieces. Cool completely before separating. To decorate, mix 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons water; brush on the cookies and sprinkle with colored sugar.

LOVE HEART COOKIE PUZZLE

Steps:

• For the cookie dough: Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C/350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and egg and beat again for 1 minute to combine, scraping down the bowl to ensure all of the butter mixture is incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients in 3 parts and mix until combined.
• Scrape the dough onto a work surface and slightly wet your hands. Knead the dough into a smooth disc and place between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Roll the dough out until it is 1/4 inch thick.
• Remove the parchment paper and use a heart puzzle cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes. If you do not have a heart puzzle cookie cutter, use a normal heart cookie cutter, then cut the heart down the middle with a knife to create a left and right side. Lift the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet and bake until they are just slightly golden around the edges, about 7 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
• For the icing: Add 1 cup of the royal icing mix to one bowl and the remaining 1/2 cup to a second bowl. In the first bowl with 1 cup of icing mix, create the flooding consistency royal icing. Add a drop of red food gel to the bowl and then, starting with 1 teaspoon of water, stir the mixture together with a spoon. Keep adding water to the bowl 1/2 teaspoon at a time until the mixture reaches the flooding consistency--when you drag a line through the icing mixture with a spoon, the line should disappear within 5 to 10 seconds. If the line disappears earlier, your mixture is too runny and you need to add a few tablespoons of royal icing mix to thicken the icing to the right consistency. If the line takes longer than 10 seconds to disappear, then your mixture is still too thick and you need to keep adding water 1/2 teaspoon at a time until you have the correct consistency. Once you have your red flooding icing, place a damp kitchen towel over the top of the bowl to stop it from drying out.
• In the remaining bowl, create the soft peak-consistency royal icing. Again, adding just 1/2 teaspoon of water at a time, stir the mixture together until it reaches a soft peak stage--when you lift the spoon out of the bowl and hold it in the air, the icing forms a soft peak on the end of the spoon. If the mixture is too runny and the icing falls off the end of the spoon, add more royal icing mix. If the mixture is too stiff, just add water 1/4 teaspoon at a time and mix together until it reaches soft peak consistency. Once you have the correct consistency, transfer about 2 tablespoons of the white soft peak icing to another bowl. Add red food gel coloring to the remaining mixture and stir to combine. If you would like to flavor any of the royal icing, add 1/4 teaspoon of your favorite extract, such as vanilla.
• Transfer the royal icing mixtures into separate piping bags fitted with number 2 round tip nozzles. Cover the ends of the piping nozzles with a damp tea towel at all times to stop them from drying out.
• With a cooled cookie in front of you, pipe a border of red soft peak royal icing around the edge of the cookie. Apply even pressure with your hand, and squeeze a thin line of icing along the outside of the cookie, joining the icing up at the end. Repeat on all of the cookies.
• Next, you need to flood the cookies. Pipe the red flooding royal icing inside the border you just created on each cookie, filling up the center of the cookies with icing. Use the piping nozzle to squeeze the icing into the edges to ensure each cookie is covered entirely. Allow to set for 10 minutes.
• Using the white soft peak royal icing, apply even pressure with your hand and decorate the center of each cookies with names, initials or messages. The cookies should be eaten the same day for the best taste.

PUZZLE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl knead flour into sugar cookie dough.
• Divide dough into 6 (or more) portions.
• On an ungreased cookie sheet, roll each portion into a 5-inch square.
• Press a well-floured 3- to 4-inch Halloween cookie cutter into the square (use smaller cutters, if desired).
• Carefully remove cookie cutter without removing dough.
• Using a table knife, cut outside portion of square into large puzzle pieces.
• In a small mixing bowl beat egg yolks and water.
• Divide mixture among 3 or 4 small bowls.
• In each bowl, add 2 to 3 drops of liquid food coloring or desired amount of paste food coloring in desired color; mix well.
• Brush dough puzzle pieces with different colors of egg yolk mixture.
• Apply to cookie dough with small clean paintbrush.
• If mixture thickens while standing, stir in water, one drop at a time.
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until bottoms of cookies just start to brown and centers are set.
• While still warm, carefully recut pieces with the knife.
• Trim edges as needed.
• Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool completely.

COLOR WHEEL COOKIE PUZZLE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make the shortbread cookie dough according to the recipe instructions.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to ½-inch thick and cut out a 9-inch circle. Cut the circle into quarters, then cut the quarters into thirds for 12 triangular pieces. Gently transfer the pieces to the prepared baking sheet. Use the dough scraps to make smaller cookies, or roll into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in an airtight container for 2-4 weeks.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until light golden around the edges.
• Make the royal icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add the vanilla and water and whisk until smooth.
• Divide the icing evenly between 12 small bowls. Color each bowl of icing: 4 drops red for red, 1 drop red and 4 drops orange for red-orange, 4 drops orange for orange, 1 drop orange and 4 drops yellow for orange-yellow, 4 drops yellow for yellow, 2 drops yellow and 2 drops green for yellow-green, 4 drops green for green, 3 drops green and 1 drop blue for blue-green, 4 drops blue for blue, 3 drops blue and 3 drops deep-violet for blue-violet, 4 drops violet for violet, 4 drops deep-violet and 3 drops red for red-violet. Mix well until evenly colored. Immediately transfer the icing to piping bags or cover with plastic wrap and prevent a skin from forming.
• Decorate the puzzle pieces: Cut a small opening in the tip of a piping bag. Outline the outer edge of a cookie, then fill in the center, using a toothpick or cake tester to make sure the surface is fully covered and pop any air bubbles. Repeat with the remaining cookies and icings in rainbow color order. Let the icing set for at least 3-4 hours, up to overnight.
• Arrange the cookies as a color wheel, then serve.
• Enjoy!

EASTER EGG PUZZLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture, and beat until combined. Add vanilla. Wrap dough in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out egg shapes with a 2 1/2-inch oval cutter. Transfer cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Bake until edges are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Upon removing from oven, cut into pieces with a sharp knife (if they're cool, it will be difficult to create clean edges). Let cool. Using a pastry bag fitted with a 1/8-inch tip and filled with royal icing, decorate as desired. Sprinkle with sanding sugar while icing is wet. If adding dots or stripes, let base layer dry first.

KWANZAA PUZZLE COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt, then lightly whisk and set aside.2. In a stand mixer set on medium speed, beat the butter and peanut butter until blended and creamy, about 45 seconds. On medium speed, add the sugar and beat until light. Beat in the vanilla, orange juice, and zest until blended, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Turn off the mixer, add half the flour mixture, and beat on low speed until blended. Add the remaining flour and beat until blended.3. Using lightly floured hands, gather the dough into a ball. Divide the ball in half and flatten each into a 6- to 8-inch disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours or until firm.4. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or leave ungreased and set aside. 5. To make puzzle cookies: Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator and, if needed, soften slightly for easier handling. Roll the dough into a 1/8-inch-thick, 10-by-10-inch square on a lightly floured board, between 2 pieces of parchment paper or heavy-duty plastic wrap, or on a pastry cloth with a cloth-covered rolling pin. Using a paring knife and a ruler, trim the edges. Using Kwanzaa-themed cookie cutters, randomly form several shapes within the square, then use the paring knife to create puzzlelike shapes around them (see photo). Using a palette knife or thin metal spatula, carefully transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet, keeping them in the same location as within the puzzle. Place the cookies about 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheet.6. Bake in the middle of the oven until the cookies begin to color, 9 to 11 minutes. Let the cookies firm and cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. Arrange the cookies on a flat plate or tray in the completed puzzle form.7. To make traditional cutout cookies: Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick. Lightly dip a 3- or 3 1/2-inch cookie cutter in flour, then firmly press it straight down into the dough. Repeat, cutting the cookies close together to avoid rerolling. Place the cookies about 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake in the middle of the oven until the cookies begin to color, about 22 minutes. Let the cookies firm and cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring to a rack to cool completely.Serving Size: 2 CookiesVariation If you're a peanut butter lover, be sure to try Misbehavin' Girls Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwiches. Follow the main recipe for the traditional cutout cookies. Roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick and use a 3-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter. Bake as directed and cool the cookies to room temperature. Sandwich the flat sides of two cookies together with a generous tablespoon of the frosting featured in Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cupcakes (page 138). The result is worth every calorie.From Holiday Baking. Text copyright © 2005 by Sara Perry. Photographs copyright © 2005 by Leigh Beisch. All rights reserved. First published by Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, California.