Snowflake Cookies
There’s hardly a chance of a white Christmas where I live but it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a few snowflakes…even if they are in the shape of cookies!
This is not a family recipe from my mother, but it is from another woman, a Southern Lady, Paula Deen. I tried this recipe several years back and loved how the dough handled, the texture and taste that it has become a regular on my Christmas cookie tray ever since! While these certainly can be cut out into any shape, I make the whole batch into snowflakes. I like presentation of the twinkling snowflakes mingled among the other cookies.
And while I’m chatting about my cookie trays for the last several posts, I was left a comment from John From The Bartolini Kitchens wondering what my cookie trays look like. So, here is a peek into the back of my car making its way to deliver the cookies!!
Not a great shot, but the cookies are layered and stacked, heaviest on bottom to form a nice sweet pyramid. This year I made a total of about 9 different cookies. Teamwork with my daughter, she layered, I wrapped and bowed each plate. I pick up pretty holiday plates to give with the cookies; no paper products for the holidays!!
Snowflake Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Icing – recipe follows
Garnish: silver dragees, sugar pearls, sparkling sugar
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract until combined.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating until smooth. Wrap dough in heavy-duty plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with assorted snowflake cookie cutters and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Chill dough 15 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Let cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
Makes about 2 ½ dozen.
Icing:
Mix together 1 tablespoon of melted butter with ½ pound confectioners’ sugar and about ¼ cup milk. Stir in milk slowly to reach desired consistency. Brush on cookies and immediately add sprinkles of your choice.
spicegirlfla
I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.
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31 Comments
sprint2thetable
They look so festive spread out in you backseat on the blanket! Get way to keep them from sliding about, btw.
I’m a firm believer that Paula Deen recipes may as well be recipes from your mamma. 🙂
spicegirlfla
That blanket definitely does come in handy when I’m transporting all my desserts!
Lisa @smartfoodandfit
Wow, you were busy baking! These look terrific! I made tiny tiny samples to giveaway to the ladies in my barre class. This year our Christmas is quiet and didn’t do much baking as I’d like! Merry Christmas if I don’t hear from you!
Kristy
Mmmmmm. These look fantastic! And I love your cookie trays. They are so festive and fun. I have no doubt you’re making countless friends happy with those. 🙂
Charles
What’s this? Paula Deen, and only “1 cup” of butter? 😀 I love the look of the icing – so pale and delicate looking! Yummy 🙂 How are your Christmas preparations coming on? Stocked in on all the stuff yet?
spicegirlfla
I think that is why I like this recipe – it’s not overkill with the butter!! I think I’m pretty much ready for the holidays – as you know, I had a timetable of prep work made ahead to keep me on schedule!! I’ll be doing lots of cooking over the next day!
sportsglutton
Love the cookie trays. My family use to do the same thing during the holidays.
Food, Flowers, Herbs and Life!
Beautiful snowflake cookies – almost too pretty to eat – almost! Wow! I’m so impressed with your cookie trays! Lucky recipients!
thekalechronicles
Yay for you for buying real plates — that’s impressive. I use tins or cardboard boxes. This morning I’m making dividers for the tins to that the fragile cookies don’t get crushed by the others or shift around. I love the sparkliness of your snowflakes.
spicegirlfla
That’s a great idea Sharyn to put in dividers. I did put my sister’s cookies in a tin for shipping.
Chica Andaluza
So beautiful and a lovely recipe. Your lucky friends/neighbours who get the plate and the cookies! What a lovely tradition 🙂
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
Holy cow, look at those trays. I keep singing about your cookies, by the way. I blame Geni, Italian fig cookies… Another great one here.
Caroline
So many cookies!!!! Don’t get those near me because I could easily eat that entire tray in one day. Yes, my sweet tooth is that bad. What a wonderful gift, Linda. 🙂
spicegirlfla
I hear you Caroline. My daughter couldn’t wait for all the cookies to be wrapped up as she came home to the dining room table filled with cookies!!
Kelly @ Inspired Edibles
Wonderful! Now, what kind of sprinkles have you got on top? They look like a shimmering silver…so festive and inviting and your snowflake shape is so detailed… your cookies trays look smashing wrapped in cello and ribbon – gift-giving perfect!
spicegirlfla
Thanks Kelly. The sprinkles were coarse sugar crystals in a silvery grey color; I found them at a cake shop.
France
What a nice simple recipe that looks so festive. Maybe we’ll even bake cookies on Christmas day this year. These would be perfect.
eva626
lovely cookies…
ChgoJohn
Those snowflakes look great, sparkles and all! Thanks for the shout-out but those cookie trays! They’re even better than I’d imagined, Linda. What outstanding gifts they’ll make! Now, just how does one get on your delivery route? I mean, I’d hate to move to Florida, only to find out next December that I somehow fell short. (And bringing Zia with me is not an option.)
spicegirlfla
Zia doesn’t like beautiful weather?? My father never visited me because he didn’t like to fly! I should have made a road trip with him because he loved the ocean (reminded him of Sicily) and of course, the weather. Well, my cookies were also shipped up to Ohio in tins so you don’t need to live locally to get my cookies!!
Geni - Sweet and Crumby
I am soooooooooo glad you showed us photos of your beautiful, festive and scrumptious cookie trays. I WANT TO BE ON YOUR COOKIE LIST LADY! Really! 🙂 These look fantastic! I have an idea how much work is involved and how much of your love and patience as well. Please, please have a wonderful Christmas!
spicegirlfla
Ahh…you the baking queen wants my little ‘ol cookies! I’m very flattered to say the least!! I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Aimee@clevermuffin
Wow – look at all those cookies? How do I get on that list? What nice things must I do? It’s always good to have a dough that handles well, I often don’t have luck with that. I’ve saved this for next time I want to do a shape, and making them sparkle like that is just so festive. Merry christmas!
The Hook
These take me back; my late Grandmother made something similar and it’s been nice to look back. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
yummychunklet
You really can’t go wrong with cookies when the recipe’s from Paula Deen!
thecompletecookbook
Oh what beautiful snowflake cookies. I too give baked goodies for gifts – all year around actually but so much more fun at Christmas with all the festive plates and ribbons.
🙂 Mandy
David
How wonderful it must be to be a recipient of one of these gorgeous trays! They are a feast for the eyes as well the a treat for the tongue!
Karen
Beautiful cookies and wonderful cookie trays. The recipients must be grinning from ear to ear. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Linda Walbridge
Wow! Add me to the list of readers who want a cookie tray. Love the snowflakes! Merry Christmas!
gardenfreshtomatoes
Wish you were here to help me… this will go down in our Christmas History as the Year of Undecorated Sugar Cookies…
(Not that they’ll go to waste…I DO have a 20 year old son who could care less if the cookies have frosting or sprinkles!)
bitsandbreadcrumbs
Your snowflake cookies look beautiful and your trays are amazing. I bow to you and nine different kinds of cookies, and I know the recipients were just thrilled!