Painted Christmas Cookies

After last year's Christmas cookie {and kitchen} besprinkling extravaganza I decided that this year we'd try painting our cookies. Sprinkles, I have decided, make me tired. Perhaps you recall the the scene of disaster fun from last December. If not, here is a reminder...

Oh, it was fun, but there was way to much scooping, shoveling, and vigorous shaking of sprinkles going on. I'm not kidding, I literally swept up dyed sugar crystals for months after that memorable baking day. This year it was sugary paint instead and it was a huge success. We had so. much. fun!

Start with your favorite cut-out cookie recipe and prepare as directed. After the cookies have baked and cooled, mix your paint, err, glaze.


For the glaze:

Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, 2 tablespoons water, and a splash {1/2 teaspoon, maybe} of almond extract, or whatever flavoring you desire. Divide the mixture into smaller containers and stir in 2-3 drops of food coloring per container making each a different color.

If you have trouble locating some of the gazillion cheap watercolor paintbrushes that you know you own just use clean cotton swabs to apply the glaze, they'll work just as well. Apply the paint glaze to the cool cookies and set aside to dry... you may also add sprinkles to the wet glaze if you desire. {Seeing as I was trying to avoid sprinkles we didn't go there!} Periodically stir the glazes while you work to ensure that the color stays well mixed. After the glazed cookies are dry store them in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper.

I asked the boys if cookie painting or cookie sprinkling is more fun and the unanimous response was cookie painting. I agree! Cookie painting it is; I doubt we'll ever sprinkle again.