Melted Snowmen Cookies

This past weekend, Mary and I had a holiday bake-a-thon! We baked and decorated and ate until our cookie trays were full and our teeth were aching. (I guess not aching too much since we have already planned a round two for when more family comes in town!) Over the next couple days I'm going to share with you all the cookies and treats we made to make your holidays even sweeter!

Mary and I in our matching Holiday jammie pants ready for a day of baking!

First I have to start out with this guy...how cute is he??? I almost didn't even want to eat him! (I said almost...)

I stumbled upon these melted snowmen cookies back in June and have been pacing back and forth the last six months until it was acceptable to make them. Since I have also developed a very unhealthy pinterest addiction, they taunted me ever day from the other side of the computer. Just screaming to be made!

Well Mary and I did just that and they turned out so cute! We ended up using a sugar cookie recipe we already had and went to the trusty internet for a royal icing recipe. Each one had it's own personality and was completely worth the back ache decorating these cuties caused us.

Melted Snowmen Cookies

(cookie decorating inspired by Crazy Domestic)

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

3 1/2 Cup Flour

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Cup Shortening

1/2 Cup Butter

1 1/2 Cup Sugar

2 Beaten Eggs

1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

Beat shortening and butter until creamy. Mix sugar, eggs, and vanilla then add to shortening mixture. Add dry ingredients then blend into creamy mixture.

Refrigerate dough for one hour for easy rolling. Roll and cut into desired shapes.

Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until light brown around edges.

Alton Brown's Royal Icing

Ingredients

3 Ounces Egg Whites

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

4 Cups Powdered Sugar

***(This was a little too sweet for Mary and I so we added a little bit of melted butter and milk to cut the taste)

Directions

In large bowl of stand mixer combine the egg whites and vanilla and beat until frothy. Add confectioners' sugar gradually and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated and mixture is shiny. Turn speed up to high and beat until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks. This should take approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add food coloring, if desired. For immediate use, transfer icing to pastry bag or heavy duty storage bag and pipe as desired. If using storage bag, clip corner. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How to assemble the cookies:

Either free hand cut the cookies or use a cookie cutter. Mary and I used a pint glass and coffee mug to obtain circles. Bake, cool, and apply white icing to the cookies according to the cookie recipe. Take a microwave safe plate and spray with cooking spray and space marshmallows out on plate. Put in microwave for about 30 seconds...keep an eye on them because once they start to expand you need to take them out! Spray your hands with cooking spray and take the marshmallows and place them on the edge of cookies. Then continue to decorate your snowmen.

You will have so much fun making these, this I promise you! Leave comments and let me know how it goes!

Enjoy! :)