Melted Snowman Cookies

My girls rarely agree on things so when they do it's a big deal. When choosing Christmas cookies to make I asked them to each pick a cookie. Both of them were torn between two cookies, and these melted snowman cookies, they were both torn between. So all 3 of their cookies ended up on the to make list.

The cookie is a sugar cookie and the recipe I used was so delicious! I loved the taste of the cookie, however, they spread out when baking. But for decorating them as melted snowman it worked great. I would just not use this sugar cookie recipe for the traditional cookie cutter sugar cookies, because of how much they spread out. 

These cookies are so cute and my girls and I had so much fun making and decorating them. 

Melted Snowman Cookies

Ingredients:
Sugar Cookies

• 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing

• 4 egg whites
• 8 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Decorations

• large marshmallows
• black decorating gel
• orange decorating gel
• mini chocolate chip

Directions:
Sugar Cookies

1. In a large bowl cream the butter and then slowly add in the sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
2. Add in the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
3. Mix in the vanilla.
4. In another large bowl whisk together the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture and stir together with a spoon just until incorporated. The dough will be slightly sticky, but if it is too sticky, stir in a little bit more flour.
6. Transfer the mixture to plastic wrap and wrap tightly. Refrigerate overnight.
7. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats.
8. Lightly flour your hands and pull off a piece of dough, the amount of dough will depend on how big you want your cookies.
9. Using your hand flatten the dough into a bumpy circle about 1/4 inch thick. You do not want a perfect circle, bumps and uneven edges are what you want.
10. Place the dough circles on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
11. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned on the bottom.
12. Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets and then transfer them to a cooling rack and allow to completely cool.

Icing

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or stand mixer, beat the egg whites until frothy.
2. Slowly add enough powdered sugar until the icing will hold shape.
3. Mix in just enough lemon juice until desired consistency is reached. If the icing is too thin add in a bit more powdered sugar.

Decorations

1. Place the cooled cookies about 1 inch apart on a piece of waxed paper or several silpats.
2. Working with one cookie at a time, spread the icing onto the cookie allowing it to drip over the edges of the cookie, to look like melting snow.
3. Spray a microwave safe plate with cooking spray and place 1 marshmallow on it. Microwave for 10-20 seconds, just until the marshmallow starts to puff up. Immediately place the marshmallow on the edge of the iced cookie.
4. Repeat with the remaining cookies.
5. Place several mini chocolate chips down the middle of the cookie for buttons.
6. Use the black decorating gel make eyes and a mouth on the marshmallow. Plus use it to make twig arms.
7. Use the orange decorating gel to make a carrot nose on the marshmallow.

Enjoy!!!

*Adapted from All Recipes and All Recipes.