Christening Cookies

I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year.  I know that many people try to eat lighter and avoid desserts after indulging during the holiday season.  I know I am.  But the one thing I've learned during the course of many diets and attempts to loose weight is that you can't deprive yourself completely.  Desserts and comfort food shouldn't be eliminated completely.  But eaten in moderation, they can be in your diet.  Personally, I am trying to be low-carb and eat healthy during the week, but giving myself the weekends to enjoy myself.  So far it seems to working. But then again it's only January 8th, so ask me again how I am doing in February.

This weekend I made cookies for a family friend's Christening. These cookies by no means fall into my healthy eating plan, but they certainly look pretty (and definitely taste good).   I kept it simple, crosses and squares, which I felt were appropriate for the occasion. The only bling I added is a little sanding sugar on the edges of the crosses. 

Here is my go to cookie and royal icing recipe.   As I experiment with some healthier recipes I will be posting some of the more successful ones.  (I will save you from the recipes that taste like cardboard.) 

Sugar Cookies

6 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups unsalted butter 2 cups granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoon vanilla extract Cream sugar and butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl and add to butter mixture. Mix well. Put a handful of the freshly made dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll to desired thickness. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Put the rolled dough, including the parchment paper, on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes or longer. Your dough will be chilled and ready to cut and bake with now wait and no added flour! Repeat with scraps after cutting cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 -10 minutes. Let cool.

Source: Fancys Flours 

Royal Icing

3 Tablespoons Meringue Powder

4 cups confectioners' sugar sifted 6 tablespoons warm water Beat all ingredients until icing forms a peak (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer). Source: Wilton