Description
Nordic holiday magic shines through these Reindeer Delight Cookies, blending sweet nostalgia with festive charm. Crumbly, spiced gems will transport winter memories from Scandinavian kitchens directly to your holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt
Butter and Sugar Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (180 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar
Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons (75 milliliters) milk
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) warm water
- 1 ½ tablespoons (22.5 grams) meringue powder
- A few drops of brown liquid food coloring
- A few green M&M’s (for noses)
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, cream together softened butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar using an electric mixer until achieving a silky, uniform texture.
- Gently fold in all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt into the butter mixture. Incorporate milk incrementally until the dough reaches a cohesive consistency.
- Wrap the freshly prepared dough in plastic film and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing it to solidify and develop robust flavor.
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C). Carefully roll out the chilled dough on a lightly dusted surface to approximately ¼ inch thickness. Utilize a circular cookie cutter to shape the cookies precisely.
- Arrange the formed cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing. Bake for 9-10 minutes until the edges transform into a delicate golden hue.
- Remove cookies and transfer to a cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature completely.
- Prepare royal icing by whisking powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla extract, and gradually introducing warm water until stiff peaks emerge. Separate icing into white and brown batches.
- Decorate cooled cookies by piping white icing to create the reindeer’s facial features and eyes. Once set, add intricate brown antlers and a vibrant green M&M for the characteristic nose.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookie’s shape during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for a smoother, more consistent cookie dough texture.
- Sift dry ingredients to eliminate lumps and ensure even distribution in the mixture.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent icing from melting or running.
- Work with royal icing quickly as it sets fast and can become difficult to manage.
- Store decorated cookies in a single layer between parchment paper to preserve intricate designs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Nordic
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg