These daintily decorated cookies are perfect for a bridal or baby shower.
Directions for: Flower Party Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp orange blossom water
3 cup all purpose flour
tsp fine salt
tsp baking powder
tsp ground nutmeg
Decoration1 lb(s) white rolling fondant
2 tsp orange blossom water
egg white, or meringue powder with a little water, for brushing
paste food colours
bamboo skewers or toothpicks, to add colour
icing sugar for rolling
small flower cutters (found at specialty cake stores)
small paint brush
Directions
Cookies1. Beat butter and sugar with electric beaters until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, vanilla and orange blossom water and beat in well.
2. In a separate bowl, stir flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Add to butter mixture and beat on low speed just until blended. Shape dough into 2 discs, wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to -inch and cut out desired shapes, such as flowers. Place cookies on baking tray, one inch apart and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until just lightly browned around the edges. Allow to cool completely before icing.
Decoration1. For decoration, knead fondant to soften. Add orange blossom water and knead into fondant. Break fondant into pieces, keeping each wrapped at all times. Add just a touch of desired colour to a piece of fondant and knead in with your fingers, adjusting colour if necessary. Repeat with other pieces of fondant.
2. On a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar, roll out fondant to 1/8 -inch thickness. Using the same cookie cutter as you used for the cookies, cut out a few flower shapes. Use a smaller flower cutter and cut out a flower hole (I like to offset this to create relief). Brush a little egg white onto the back of the large fondant flower and adhere to cookie. Cut out more small flowers and set aside. Repeat process with remaining coloured fondant pieces.
3. With reserved small cut-outs, arrange clusters or bouquets onto iced cookies, mixing colours, sizes and patterns to your liking. Let completed cookies dry for an hour, then store in an airtight container or package in cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon.
See more: Bake, Eggs/Dairy, Dessert, Snack, Picnic