I made these cookies for my kids’ school last week. They have bake sale about 3 times a year to raise money for the school. It is a very exciting event and the kids just love it ! These are Halloween cookies but you can make them for any occasions, Christmas, Valentines, birthdays, etc. Get creative and have fun ! The icing take at least 6 hours to dry depending on humidity.  So plan ahead, you may need up to 2 days to make them.

For the cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 cups pastry flour
• 1 + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Sift flour, baking powder, salt together, set aside
3. Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment,  cream butter and sugar until fluffy
4. Add egg, vanilla and milk, mix well
5. Add flour mixture in 2 – 3 portions
6. Mix until a dough is formed, scraping sides of mixing bowl
7. Roll dough flat on flour surface, about 2-3 mm thickness
8. Cut with cookie cutters
9. Bake on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper for about 8-9 minutes until edges turn brown
10. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes,  then completely on rack

If the dough is too soft to roll, you can put it in the fridge for about 1 hour before rolling.  Cool cookies completely before icing.

For the icing

• 1 cup icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 teaspoons water
• food coloring for icing

1. Sift icing sugar
2. Add milk, corn syrup and vanilla
3. Add water, a few drops at a time to get the desired consistency
4. Add food coloring
5. Mix until smooth

Use a thicker icing to outline the borders, let dry, then use a thinner icing for the middle.  The icing is almost transparent, so you will need to add white food coloring to make it white.