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

Wedding sugar cookies are a delightful addition to any wedding celebration. They can be decorated in various ways, from simple and elegant to intricate and detailed. Making wedding sugar cookies involves a few key steps, starting with preparing the dough, cutting out the desired shapes, and baking them to perfection. The fun part comes with decorating the cookies using royal icing, lustre dust, and other creative embellishments. These cookies can be packaged individually as wedding favours or displayed on platters for guests to enjoy. The process of creating wedding sugar cookies can be time-consuming, but the result is a beautiful and delicious treat that adds a special touch to the big day.

How to make the dough

To make the dough for wedding sugar cookies, you'll need a combination of butter, sugar, flour, and a few other ingredients. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Ingredients

• Butter: Use unsalted butter at room temperature so it's soft and easy to work with. You'll need 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter for this recipe.
• Sugar: Powdered or confectioners' sugar is the best choice. You'll need 1/2 cup for the dough and some extra for rolling the cookies later.
• Flour: All-purpose flour is the way to go. You'll need 2 1/4 cups, but make sure to sift it before measuring to avoid any lumps.
• Nuts: Pecans, walnuts, or almonds can be used, but pecans are a popular choice for their rich, nutty flavour. You'll need about 3/4 cup of chopped nuts.
• Vanilla: This adds a subtle flavour to the cookies.
• Salt: A pinch of salt will enhance the other flavours.

Method

• Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until they are light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer for this step.
• Add Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the flour and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add this mixture to the butter and sugar, stirring continuously.
• Mix in Nuts: Chop your chosen nuts and stir them into the dough.
• Chill the Dough: If the dough seems too soft, place it in the refrigerator to chill for a while. This will make it easier to handle.
• Form the Dough: Once the dough is chilled, form it into a ball or a disk. If it's too sticky, you can pop it back in the fridge for a few more minutes.
• Roll and Cut: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, such as wedding dresses, hearts, or circles.
• Bake: Place the cut-out dough shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden.
• Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool slightly before removing them from the baking sheet. If desired, roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar for a delicious coating. Allow them to cool completely on wire racks before decorating them further.

Feel free to add your own creative touches, such as pearl luster dust for a shimmering effect, or royal icing for a more elaborate design. The key to successful wedding sugar cookies is to take your time, be patient, and enjoy the process of creating these beautiful treats!

Shaping the cookies

Firstly, it is important to ensure that your dough is the correct consistency. If it is too sticky, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow it to firm up. This will make it easier to handle and shape. If your dough seems too soft at any point during the process, don't hesitate to chill it again.

Once your dough is ready, use a cookie scoop or a melon baller to scoop out portions of the dough. You can also use a teaspoon for this step if you don't have a scoop. The amount of dough you use for each cookie will depend on the size you want. As a guide, a heaped tablespoon or a 1-inch ball of dough will give you a decent-sized cookie.

Next, it's time to roll the dough into balls. Use your hands to gently shape the portions of dough into spherical shapes. This step doesn't need to be perfect, but try to get the balls as round as you can. Place the shaped dough balls onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each one to allow for spreading during baking.

If you want to get creative, you can also shape the cookies into different forms such as crescents. This is a popular shape for Italian wedding cookies, also known as Mexican wedding cookies.

If you're making dress-shaped cookies, you can use a wedding dress cookie cutter to cut out the dough into the desired shape. You can also use different cookie cutters to create a variety of designs.

Once you've shaped all your cookies, they're ready to be baked! Follow the baking instructions for your particular recipe, and remember to keep an eye on them to avoid over-browning.

After baking, let the cookies cool slightly before removing them from the baking sheets. This will help them retain their shape. If you've made dress-shaped cookies, you can now decorate them with royal icing and add some pearl luster dust to make them shimmer.

Baking the cookies

Now that you have your cookie dough ready, it's time to bake! Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure your wedding sugar cookies turn out perfectly:

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

If your dough is chilled, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. This will make it easier to work with.

Step 2: Form the Cookies

Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to scoop out the dough, and then roll it into balls. If you're making traditional round cookies, aim for a uniform size so that they bake evenly. Place the balls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart to allow for spreading.

If you're making shaped cookies, such as hearts or dresses, use cookie cutters to cut out the desired shapes from the rolled-out dough. Again, place them on your prepared baking sheets.

Step 3: Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to the temperature specified in your recipe. The typical baking temperature for cookies is around 350°F (180°C), but your recipe may vary.

Place your baking sheets in the oven and bake the cookies until they are lightly golden or according to your recipe's instructions. This usually takes around 10-20 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your cookies.

Step 4: Cool the Cookies

Remove the cookies from the oven when they are done and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes. This will help them firm up slightly, making them easier to handle.

If your recipe calls for a second coating of powdered sugar, now is the time to roll the cookies in it while they are still warm. This will give them a delicious, sugary coating.

Step 5: Transfer to a Cooling Rack

Once the cookies have cooled slightly, transfer them to a wire cooling rack. This will allow air to circulate around them, preventing them from becoming soggy. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating or storing them.

Step 6: Decorate (Optional)

If you plan to decorate your cookies with royal icing or other decorations, now is the time to do so. Wedding sugar cookies are often decorated with intricate designs, so feel free to get creative!

Step 7: Store or Serve

Once your cookies are completely cooled and decorated, it's time to decide whether to store or serve them. If you're not serving them immediately, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay fresh for about a week.

And that's it! You've successfully baked and decorated wedding sugar cookies. Enjoy your delicious creations, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Icing the cookies

Prepare the Icing

Firstly, you will need to make the royal icing itself. There are many recipes available online, but a simple recipe includes powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Mix these ingredients together until you have a smooth and glossy icing. If you want to add colour to your icing, this is the stage to do so. Gel food colouring will give you the most vibrant results.

Consistency is Key

The consistency of your icing is very important and will depend on what you are using it for. For outlining your cookies, you will need a thicker consistency, whereas flooding (filling in the inside of your shapes) requires a thinner consistency. To adjust the consistency, simply add small amounts of water to thin the icing or powdered sugar to thicken it.

Outline and Flood

Now it's time to start icing those cookies! Using a piping bag with a small round tip, outline the cookie with your thicker icing. Be sure to create an outline that is thick enough to hold the flood icing. Once you have outlined the cookie, it's time to flood. Thin your icing to a consistency similar to thick honey and pour it inside the outline. Use a toothpick or similar tool to spread the icing to the edges and pop any air bubbles. Allow the icing to dry completely before adding any further details.

Add the Details

Once your base layer is dry, you can add any additional details you wish. Using thicker icing, pipe on any designs, words, or patterns. You can also add decorations such as sprinkles, luster dust, or edible glitter at this stage. Allow the icing to dry completely before handling the cookies.

Packaging and Storage

Once your cookies are fully decorated and dry, it's important to package and store them correctly. Place the cookies in airtight containers and store them at room temperature. If you need to stack the cookies, place a layer of parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking. These cookies can be stored for up to a week, but are best enjoyed within a few days.

Icing wedding sugar cookies can be a fun and creative process. Remember to take your time, and don't be afraid to experiment with different colours, techniques, and decorations!

Storing the cookies

Storing your wedding sugar cookies correctly is essential to ensure they remain fresh and delicious. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for storing your cookies:

Storing Unbaked Cookie Dough:

If you've made a large batch of cookie dough and don't plan to bake all of it at once, you can store the remaining dough for future use. Form the dough into a disk shape, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator. The dough will stay fresh for up to 3 days. If you need to store it for longer, you can freeze it for up to a month. Make sure to thaw the dough in the refrigerator before bringing it to room temperature and rolling it out.

Storing Baked and Undecorated Cookies:

If you've baked a batch of wedding sugar cookies and haven't decorated them yet, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh for about a week. This is a great option if you want to prepare the cookies in advance and decorate them closer to the wedding day.

Storing Decorated Cookies:

Once your wedding sugar cookies are baked and decorated, you'll want to take extra care to preserve their appearance and freshness. Place the cookies in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper. If you need to stack them, separate each layer with parchment paper to prevent the decorations from sticking together. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Freezing Decorated Cookies:

If you've decorated your wedding sugar cookies with royal icing, you can also freeze them to extend their shelf life. Place the cookies on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you're ready to serve them, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature. The icing may appear wet or soft initially, but it will dry again as the cookies come to room temperature.

Packaging Cookies for Wedding Favors:

If you're packaging the cookies as wedding favors, there are a few extra considerations. Individually wrap each cookie in a small bag or box, and consider adding a cute ribbon or tag with the couple's names and wedding date. This will not only make a charming favor for the guests but also help keep the cookies fresh. If you're using bright or deep colours on the cookies, make sure the icing is completely dry before packaging to avoid colour bleeding.

Frequently asked questions