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

Wedding cake sugar cookies are a simple and elegant dessert option for any engagement party, bridal shower, or wedding. They are also known as Italian or Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, or butterballs. These cookies are made with a combination of butter, sugar, flour, and nuts, and are often coated in powdered sugar. The dough is typically shaped into balls or crescents and baked until lightly browned. They are then rolled in powdered sugar while still warm, creating a sweet and delicate coating. Wedding cake sugar cookies can be decorated with royal icing and personalized designs, making them a perfect addition to any wedding celebration.

Using a cake-shaped cookie cutter, cut shapes into the dough

Once you've prepared your dough, it's time to roll it out and cut out your wedding cake shapes. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect cookie shapes:

First, sprinkle your work surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar. This will prevent the dough from sticking and make it easier to handle. Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. This thickness will ensure that your cookies are sturdy and hold their shape during baking.

Now, it's time to use your cake-shaped cookie cutter. Dip the cutter into some flour or powdered sugar before each cut to prevent sticking. Start cutting out shapes from the dough, placing the cutter close together to minimise waste. Gently press the cutter straight down through the dough and then lift it straight up to release the shape. Avoid twisting the cutter, as this can distort the shape of your cookies.

As you cut out the shapes, carefully transfer them to a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the sheet to allow for even baking and expansion during cooking. If your dough becomes too soft to handle at any point, simply place it back in the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up again.

Once you've cut out all your shapes, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Chilling the dough will help the cookies retain their shape in the oven. This is especially important for gluten-free dough, which can be more delicate than traditional dough.

Now your wedding cake sugar cookies are ready to be baked! Follow the baking instructions for your chosen recipe, making sure not to overbake the cookies so they remain nice and tender. Enjoy decorating your cookies with royal icing and simple designs to create elegant treats for any wedding-related celebration.

Outline the cookie using white icing

To outline the cookie using white icing, you'll need to make a batch of royal icing. This icing will be used to outline the cookie and add some simple decorations. Here's a recipe for royal icing that you can use:

In a medium bowl, combine 4 cups of powdered sugar (sifted) and 2 tablespoons of meringue powder. Add water gradually and mix until the icing is well blended and has a matte finish. This is the base consistency. For outlining the cookies, you'll want the icing to be a bit thicker, so add less water. A good rule of thumb is to use a "10-second rule", which means that when you drizzle icing over the bowl, it should take about 10 seconds for the icing to flow back in. If it's too thin, just add more powdered sugar.

Once you've achieved the right consistency, you can transfer the icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Carefully pipe the outline of the cookie, following the shape of your cake-shaped cookie cutter. Try to keep a steady hand and a consistent distance from the cookie to ensure a neat outline.

After outlining all the cookies, let the icing dry completely before moving on to the next step. This will help prevent any smudging or mixing of colours.

Now, you can add some extra details to your wedding cake cookies. Using the same white icing, carefully pipe the initials of the couple onto the middle tier of the cookie. You can also add some dots or other simple designs to the cookie, such as small hearts or swirls. Get creative and personalise the cookies to your liking!

Remember to work with one cookie at a time and allow the icing to dry completely between steps. This will ensure that your designs remain crisp and well-defined.

Flood the cookie with thinned-out white icing

Flooding cookies with icing is a great way to decorate them, and it's easy to do. This method will give your wedding cake sugar cookies a smooth, glossy, and professional finish. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

First, you'll need to prepare your icing. For a simple glaze icing that's suitable for beginners, you'll need confectioners' sugar (also known as powdered or icing sugar), milk, light corn syrup, and almond or vanilla extract. You'll also need food colouring if you want your icing to be something other than white. Start by stirring your sugar and milk together in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth. Then, beat in the corn syrup and your chosen extract until the icing is smooth and glossy. If the icing is too thick, you can add a little more corn syrup. If it's too thin, add a little more sugar.

Now you're ready to start flooding your cookies. Divide your icing into separate bowls if you're using different colours. Outline the edges of your cookie with the icing, using a piping bag or squeeze bottle. Then, flood the cookie with more icing, covering the whole surface. Use a toothpick to spread the icing around and to pop any air bubbles. If you want to add intricate details or decorations, you can use a food-grade brush to paint the icing onto your cookies.

Allow the icing to harden at room temperature. It will dry hard and shiny, and your cookies will be ready to serve or package up as gifts. Enjoy your beautiful, delicious wedding cake sugar cookies!

Make dots on the cookie in your desired pattern with the white icing

Now, for the fun part: decorating! Using a pastry bag fitted with a number one tip, you can make dots on the cookie in your desired pattern with the white icing. This is a great way to add a delicate, elegant touch to your wedding cake sugar cookies.

When creating your design, consider the overall look you want to achieve. You can keep it simple with just dots, or you can also write out the initials of the couple on the middle tier of the cookie. If you want to get even more creative, you can use a different colour of icing to add additional details, such as a heart or other decorative elements.

To make the dots, start by preparing your pastry bag. Fit the bag with a number one tip, which will give you a fine line for creating precise dots. Fill the bag with your white icing, making sure to fill it only halfway to avoid any mess or leakage.

Once your pastry bag is ready, you can begin piping the dots onto the cookies. Gently squeeze the bag to control the flow of icing, releasing just enough to form a small dot. Space out the dots evenly across the cookie, creating a pattern or design that you like.

If you're writing out initials or adding any other details, use the same technique of gently squeezing the pastry bag to pipe the icing onto the cookie. Remember to take your time and work with steady hands to ensure clean, precise lines and dots.

Feel free to experiment with different dot sizes and patterns to create a unique design for each cookie. You can also vary the spacing between the dots to create different textures and visual effects. Remember, there's no wrong way to do it—just have fun and let your creativity flow!

Write out the initials of the couple, leaving a space in the middle for a pink heart

Once you've made your sugar cookie dough, roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Then, using a cookie cutter, cut out rectangles that are about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide—these will be the bases of your wedding cake cookies. Using the same cookie cutter, cut out a small notch in the centre of the top of each rectangle to create the shape of a wedding cake.

Now, it's time to write out the initials of the happy couple! You can do this by using a small, sharp knife to carefully carve their initials into the dough, leaving a space in the middle for a pink heart. Make sure the initials are written clearly and are large enough to be seen, but not so large that they take up the entire rectangle.

If you want to get really creative, you can even try entwining the couple's initials, or decorating them with dots or flourishes. Get your guests involved too—they can help you decide on the style and placement of the initials. And don't forget to leave enough space for that pretty pink heart!

Once you're happy with the initials, you can start baking according to your recipe instructions. After your cookies are baked and cooled, it's time to decorate! Outline the carved initials with pink icing, and then fill in the space for the heart. You can also add other decorations, such as silver dragees or edible glitter.

And there you have it—beautiful, personalised wedding cake sugar cookies that are sure to be a hit at any wedding celebration!

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