Festive Sourdough Sugar Cookies
These delightful sourdough sugar cookies are a charming twist on the classic holiday treat. Soft and sweet, they are the perfect canvas for the little ones' creativity, making them ideal for decorating and hanging on the Christmas tree. Infused with flavors of lemon and vanilla, these cookies boast a tender texture thanks to the addition of sourdough starter. Gather your loved ones around for a fun family activity, creating beautiful decorations that taste just as good as they look!
N/A
Servings
150
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
Crisco shortening
1 cup (Softened)
Sugar
1 1/2 cups (Granulated)
Large eggs
3 (Beaten)
Sourdough starter
1/2 cup (Active)
Lemon extract or almond extract
1 1/2 teaspoons (Choose your preference)
Vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (Pure)
All-purpose flour
4 1/2 cups (Sifted)
Salt
1 teaspoon (Fine)
Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (Baking)
Large egg yolks
3-4 (Separated from whites)
Water
5 teaspoons (Room temperature)
Food coloring
As desired (Any colors)
White corn syrup
1 tablespoon (Light)
Large egg whites
3 (At room temperature)
Powdered sugar
1 lb (Sifted)
Cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon (Baking)
Instructions
1
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the Crisco shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
2
Add the large eggs, sourdough starter, lemon or almond extract, and vanilla extract. Mix well until fully combined.
3
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda.
4
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just blended. If desired, chill the dough in the refrigerator for an hour.
5
Once chilled, roll out the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until the edges are just lightly browned, approximately 8-10 minutes.
7
Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them immediately to a cooling rack to cool completely.
8
While the cookies cool, prepare the egg-yolk paint by blending together the egg yolks, water, food coloring, and corn syrup in a small bowl. For multiple colors, divide the mixture into separate jars before adding the food coloring.
9
Once the cookies are cool, use a clean paintbrush to paint the cookies with the egg-yolk paint.
10
To make the icing, combine the egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed for 7-10 minutes, or until the icing is thick and glossy.
11
Keep the icing covered with a damp cloth while decorating to prevent drying out. Use the icing to add final touches and decorations to the cookie designs.
12
Allow the icing to dry completely before storing the cookies, as it will harden and allow the cookies to be stackable.
Nutrition Information
6.5
Fat
24
Carbs
1.5
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Festive Sourdough Sugar Cookies?
They are a delightful sourdough-infused twist on classic holiday sugar cookies, perfect for decorating and hanging on a Christmas tree.
What flavoring is used in these cookies?
These cookies are infused with flavors of vanilla and your choice of lemon or almond extract.
What type of shortening is recommended?
The recipe calls for 1 cup of softened Crisco shortening.
How much sugar is needed for the dough?
You will need 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar.
How many eggs are required for the cookie dough?
The dough requires 3 large eggs, which should be beaten before adding.
What type of sourdough starter should I use?
Use 1/2 cup of active sourdough starter for the best results.
How much flour is needed for the recipe?
The recipe requires 4 1/2 cups of sifted all-purpose flour.
What are the dry ingredients for the dough?
The dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda.
Should I chill the cookie dough?
Yes, it is recommended to chill the dough in the refrigerator for one hour before rolling.
How thick should I roll the dough?
Roll the dough out on a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
How long do the cookies need to bake?
Bake the cookies for approximately 8-10 minutes until the edges are just lightly browned.
Do I need to grease the cookie sheet?
No, the instructions specify using an ungreased cookie sheet.
How should I cool the cookies?
Transfer the cookies immediately from the oven to a cooling rack to cool completely.
What is egg-yolk paint?
It is a decorative glaze made from egg yolks, water, food coloring, and corn syrup used to paint cooled cookies.
How many egg yolks are needed for the paint?
You will need 3 to 4 large egg yolks separated from the whites.
What is the purpose of corn syrup in the paint?
The white corn syrup adds a glossy finish to the egg-yolk paint.
How do I make different colors of egg-yolk paint?
Divide the yolk mixture into separate jars before adding different food colorings to each.
When should I apply the egg-yolk paint?
Apply the paint using a clean paintbrush once the cookies have cooled completely.
What ingredients are in the icing?
The icing is made from egg whites, sifted powdered sugar, and cream of tartar.
How many egg whites are needed for the icing?
The icing requires 3 large egg whites at room temperature.
How long should I beat the icing?
Beat the icing with an electric mixer on high speed for 7-10 minutes until thick and glossy.
How do I keep the icing from drying out while I work?
Keep the icing covered with a damp cloth while decorating to prevent it from hardening prematurely.
Are these cookies stackable?
Yes, once the icing dries completely and hardens, the cookies can be stacked.
How many calories are in one cookie?
Each cookie contains approximately 150 calories.
What is the fat content of these cookies?
There are 6.5 grams of fat per cookie.
How many carbohydrates are in a cookie?
Each cookie has approximately 24 grams of carbohydrates.
How much protein is in each cookie?
Each cookie contains 1.5 grams of protein.
What are some tags associated with this recipe?
Tags include sourdough, holiday baking, decorated cookies, and Christmas treats.
Is this a good family activity?
Yes, it is described as a fun family activity, especially for letting children help with decorating.