Crafting Wedding Sugar Cookies: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding cookies are a delightful treat for any bridal shower or wedding celebration. They are often buttery, nutty, and crumbly, melting in your mouth with a rich flavour. Wedding cookies go by many names, including Mexican Wedding Cookies, Italian Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, and Butterballs. They are usually made with a combination of flour, butter, sugar, and nuts, and sometimes include additional ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon, or almond extract. These cookies can be shaped into balls or crescents and are often rolled in powdered sugar for a sweet finish. Whether you're making them for a special occasion or simply indulging in a sweet treat, wedding cookies are a delightful choice.

Choosing a recipe: Italian, Mexican, or traditional sugar cookies

When it comes to wedding sugar cookies, you have a few delicious options to choose from. You could go for the traditional route, or spice things up with Italian or Mexican-inspired recipes. Here's a closer look at each option:

Traditional Sugar Cookies

These cookies are a classic choice for weddings. They are typically made with simple ingredients like butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. The dough is rolled out and cut into desired shapes, such as hearts or wedding rings. These cookies can be decorated with royal icing and sprinkles to match the wedding theme. Traditional sugar cookies are a versatile option that can be tailored to the couple's preferences.

Italian Wedding Cookies

Italian wedding cookies, also known as anginetti, offer a soft and cakelike texture with a hint of lemon and almond flavours. The dough typically includes ingredients like eggs, all-purpose flour, confectioners' sugar, baking powder, shortening, and extracts. After baking, these cookies are dipped in a glaze made from confectioners' sugar, milk, and extracts, then topped with rainbow sprinkles. Italian wedding cookies are a delightful treat that will add a touch of sweetness to any wedding celebration.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mexican wedding cookies, or polvorones, are Mexico's version of the sugar cookie. They are usually coloured with yellow or pink food colouring, but you can get creative and experiment with different colours. These cookies have a crunchy exterior and a soft, chewy texture on the inside. The ingredients include flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, shortening or lard, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cane sugar for rolling. Mexican wedding cookies are a fun and colourful addition to any wedding dessert table.

No matter which recipe you choose, these cookies are sure to impress and delight your wedding guests. Get creative with decorations and flavours to make them truly unique and reflective of the happy couple's tastes!

Preparing the dough

The first step in making wedding sugar cookies is to prepare the dough. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Butter: Use unsalted butter and ensure it is at room temperature to achieve the right consistency.
• Sugar: Confectioners' or powdered sugar is used in the dough and for rolling the cookies later.
• Salt: This enhances the other ingredients' flavours.
• Nuts: Traditionally, Mexican wedding cookies use pecans, but you can also use walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts. Toasting the nuts beforehand boosts their flavour.
• Vanilla: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavour of the cookies.
• Flour: All-purpose flour creates structure and holds the cookie dough together.

Mixing the Dough

• Cream the butter and sugar: Start by mixing the butter and sugar in a stand mixer or with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. This forms the base of your dough.
• Add the dry ingredients: Gradually mix in the flour and salt. Mix on low speed initially, and then increase to medium as the dry ingredients are absorbed.
• Incorporate the nuts: Add the crushed or ground nuts to the dough and mix on low speed until combined.

Chilling the Dough

• Form the dough: Scrape the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape it into a disk. Wrap it tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour until firm.
• Bring to room temperature: If the dough has chilled for longer, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly before rolling.

Your dough is now ready to be shaped and baked!

Shaping the cookies

Step 1: Chilling the Dough

Before shaping the dough, it is important to ensure it is the correct consistency. If the dough is too soft, it needs to be chilled. Place the dough in the refrigerator and let it chill until it is firm. This usually takes about an hour or two, depending on the quantity of dough.

Step 2: Preparing the Baking Sheets

While the dough is chilling, you can prepare your baking sheets. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This will provide a non-stick surface for your cookies.

Step 3: Forming the Dough into Balls

Once the dough is chilled, take it out of the refrigerator and let it soften for a few minutes at room temperature if necessary. Then, use your hands to roll the dough into balls. The size of the balls will depend on the desired size of your cookies. A standard size is to use about 1 tablespoon of dough for each cookie. Place the balls of dough on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart to allow for spreading during baking.

Step 4: Shaping the Cookies

At this stage, you can shape the cookies into various shapes, such as balls or crescents. If you want to create a more intricate shape, such as a wedding dress, you will need a cookie cutter. Simply roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch and use the cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape. Place the shaped dough onto the prepared baking sheets.

Step 5: Baking the Cookies

Preheat your oven to the required temperature, usually around 350°F. Bake the cookies for 13 to 20 minutes, or until they are lightly browned. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about 15 minutes before handling them.

Tips for Perfectly Shaped Cookies:

• If the dough is sticky and difficult to work with, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm it up.
• For uniform-sized cookies, use a cookie scoop to scoop the dough before rolling it into balls.
• If you are making a large batch of cookies, you can bake them in batches and keep the unbaked dough in the refrigerator to prevent it from becoming too soft.
• For intricate shapes, invest in a good set of cookie cutters and impression mats to achieve the desired design.
• If you are making wedding dress cookies, a narrow top on the dress cutter will create a more elegant and refined look.

By following these steps and tips, you will be able to shape your wedding sugar cookies like a pro!

Baking

The baking process will differ depending on the type of wedding sugar cookie you are making.

For Mexican wedding cookies, preheat your oven to 350°F or 400°F. Place the balls of cookie dough on a parchment-lined or ungreased baking sheet, spaced slightly apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or 13-16 minutes, or until the cookies start to turn light golden-brown or just golden.

For Italian wedding cookies, preheat your oven to 325°F. Shape the dough into balls or crescents and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart. Bake in the preheated oven until just browned, which should take 15 to 20 minutes.

For wedding dress cookies, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Roll the balls of dough in powdered sugar and place them on the baking sheets, spaced slightly apart. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes or until the cookies start to brown slightly on top and are golden brown on the bottoms.

For wedding sugar cookies in general, bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.

Once your cookies are baked, let them cool on the baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes. If you are rolling your cookies in powdered sugar, do this while they are still warm. Then, return the cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before serving or decorating.

Decorating

Icing and Frosting:

The most popular way to decorate sugar cookies is by using royal icing or buttercream frosting. Royal icing is made from powdered sugar, egg whites or meringue powder, and water, creating a smooth and glossy finish. Buttercream frosting, on the other hand, is made with butter, powdered sugar, and milk, resulting in a creamy and fluffy texture. Both options can be tinted with food colouring to create a variety of colours for your wedding cookies.

Piping and Detailing:

Once you have prepared your icing or frosting, you can use piping bags and various piping tips to create intricate designs and details on your cookies. You can outline the cookies, flood them with icing to create a smooth base, and then add decorative elements like borders, dots, or lettering. This is a great way to personalise your wedding cookies, such as by piping the couple's initials or wedding date.

Edible Decorations:

There are numerous edible decorations that can be used to enhance the visual appeal of your wedding sugar cookies. Some popular options include:

• Sugar pearls or sprinkles
• Edible glitter or luster dust
• Fondant cut-outs or shapes
• Fresh flowers or flower petals
• Gold or silver leaf

Presentation and Display:

The way you present and display your wedding sugar cookies can also be a form of decoration. Here are some ideas:

• Arrange the cookies on a tiered cake stand for a elegant and sophisticated look.
• Place the cookies in individual boxes or bags with a ribbon or twine for guests to take home as favours.
• Create a cookie bouquet by arranging the cookies in a vase or container, resembling a floral arrangement.
• Use cookie cutters to create shaped cookies that fit the wedding theme, such as hearts, dress silhouettes, or monogram initials.

Remember, the key to successful decoration is to be creative and have fun! Play around with different techniques and combinations to find what works best for your wedding sugar cookies.

Frequently asked questions