Yields Makes about 28 2 3/4-inch cookies
Prep and Cook Time: about 2 1/2 hours. Notes: Kids of all ages will love painting colorful designs on these frosted cookies. You can store the cookies airtight (with waxed paper between layers) for up to 2 days. Note that the painted designs will bleed into the icing and become blurred over time.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Prepare dough for Favorite Cutout Cookies. In step 2, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut cookies into desired shapes and bake as directed until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer the cookies to racks and cool until just warm to touch.

Step 2
2

Spread each cookie with plain white or palely tinted powdered sugar icing for spreading (recipe below). Let icing dry until hard, about 4 hours.

Step 3
3

To paint cookies, put undiluted food coloring in small individual bowls; for less intense color, dilute with a little water. Use watercolor brushes to paint designs on iced cookies. The food coloring will spread, so leave a little space between colors or allow each color to dry before painting with another.

Step 4
4

Powdered sugar icing. Controlling consistency of icing is simple. If it's too thick, add a few drops of water; if it's too thin, gradually add more powdered sugar. To tint, add food coloring a few drops at a time.

Step 5
5

For spreading: In a bowl, stir 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Tint with food coloring as desired. Spread icing onto cool cookies with a metal spatula. Let stand until icing is firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Makes about 1 cup.

Step 6
6

Nutritional analysis is per cookie.

Directions

Step 1
1

Prepare dough for Favorite Cutout Cookies. In step 2, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut cookies into desired shapes and bake as directed until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer the cookies to racks and cool until just warm to touch.

Step 2
2

Spread each cookie with plain white or palely tinted powdered sugar icing for spreading (recipe below). Let icing dry until hard, about 4 hours.

Step 3
3

To paint cookies, put undiluted food coloring in small individual bowls; for less intense color, dilute with a little water. Use watercolor brushes to paint designs on iced cookies. The food coloring will spread, so leave a little space between colors or allow each color to dry before painting with another.

Step 4
4

Powdered sugar icing. Controlling consistency of icing is simple. If it's too thick, add a few drops of water; if it's too thin, gradually add more powdered sugar. To tint, add food coloring a few drops at a time.

Step 5
5

For spreading: In a bowl, stir 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Tint with food coloring as desired. Spread icing onto cool cookies with a metal spatula. Let stand until icing is firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Makes about 1 cup.

Step 6
6

Nutritional analysis is per cookie.

Painted Cookies

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