Description
Whimsical gnome cookies sparkle with playful charm from German baking traditions. Colorful details and sweet frosting create adorable treats that delight guests at any celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (230 g/8.1 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ½ cups (315 g/11.1 oz) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g/5.3 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- Royal icing (store-bought or homemade, divided into red, white, and black)
- Mini marshmallows (optional, for hat details)
- Candy or chocolate chips (for noses)
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla extract to create a smooth, consistent mixture.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gently incorporate into the wet mixture, forming a uniform dough. Divide into two portions, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for one hour to enhance flavor and texture.
- Dough Shaping: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Roll chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut triangular shapes for gnome hats and circular forms for faces and beards. Carefully assemble cookie components, positioning triangular hats atop round bases and pinching hat tips for a whimsical curve.
- Baking Process: Arrange shaped cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them one inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden. Rest on baking sheets for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Decorative Finishing: Adorn gnome hats with vibrant red royal icing. Create textured white royal icing beards using a zigzag technique. Attach miniature marshmallows for hat trim and place candy or chocolate chips as noses. Add black royal icing for expressive eyes. Allow decorative elements to set completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate cookie dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and maintain intricate gnome shapes during baking.
- Roll with Precision: Use consistent 1/4-inch thickness when rolling dough to ensure uniform baking and perfectly shaped gnome cookies.
- Control Moisture Levels: Avoid overmixing dough to prevent tough cookies; mix just until ingredients combine for tender, delicate texture.
- Decorating Pro Tip: Let royal icing completely dry between layers to create crisp, clean gnome facial features and prevent color bleeding.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg