Description
Charming Jack-o-Lantern Cookies that are festive and easy to make, perfect for fall gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz unsalted butter, cool but not cold
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Adams vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1 lb powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons warm water plus more for thinning
- Gel food coloring in orange, yellow, red, and brown
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
- In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this to the butter mixture until dough forms.
- Roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thick. Cut out pumpkin shapes and transfer to baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 9 minutes until lightly golden. Let them cool on the sheet until firm enough to transfer to a rack.
- Prepare royal icing by mixing the meringue powder, powdered sugar, and 3 tablespoons of warm water in a medium bowl. Beat for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Separate a quarter of the icing and cover it. Tint the remaining icing a darker orange.
- Outline the edges of each cookie with the orange icing in a piping bag.
- Mix in brown color and pipe eyes and mouths on the cookies.
- Allow the cookies to set for about 30 minutes.
- Flood the cookies with orange icing and use a toothpick to spread it to the edges.
- Let the cookies dry at room temperature overnight, uncovered.
- Store in an airtight container without stacking.
Notes
To ensure freshness, store cookies in an airtight container, and avoid stacking to keep decorations intact.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg