Cookie Art

Sorry it has been SO long since I've been able to update... It's been a very busy summer and, sadly, I haven't been able to make a lot of cookies.

Last week I got a request from a friend who is a tattoo artist. I thought cookies as tattoo designs would be a ton of fun to make so I accepted the challenge. I used a newer recipe for these, which is quickly becoming the favorite around here =]

Cream Cheese Cut-Outs from karenscookies.net

1 cup butter
1 8-oz package cream cheese
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ tsp. almond extract
3 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Beat butter and cream cheese until well combined. Add sugar; beat until fluffy.

Add egg, vanilla and almond extract; beat well.

In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder.

Add dry ingredients to cream cheese mixture; beat until well mixed.

Divide dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours.

Preheat oven to 375°. Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. (very large cookies may take longer to bake)

The first time I used this recipe I made Lemon-Drop Martinis, so I substituted lemon extract for the almond the recipe calls for. They were such a hit that lemon is the standard flavor I use for this recipe.

Both batches of cookies were decorated with Royal Icing.