Halloween cookies

A few friends and I took a cookie decorating class after work last night and here's the outcome! We each came away with 6 large decorated cookies, a nice apron, decorating bags and tips, recipes, and the remainder of the frosting. Some more cookie decorating may be in the works this weekend w my boys ...

Zehnder's Bakery Decorated Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1tsp vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
   
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 - 1/2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
   
3. Bake 6-8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.
   

White Icing

Ingredients:
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup shortening
2 tbls water
1 tsp clear vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, shortening, water and vanilla. Beat on low speed to combine, then beat on medium speed for a full five minutes. It won't look like icing at first, but keep the mixer going for a full five minutes, and then you're done!
   
2. Note: If you're not using this for decorating, but just for icing the cake, thin the icing by adding 3 tbs of corn syrup or water to the icing.