Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Charlie (our Weimaraner puppy) has been sick with meningitis for the past couple of weeks. He spent 5 nights at the vet, and they did a great job at diagnosing him. I wanted to make some cookies as a "thank you" for taking care of him.

I used the sugar cookie recipe from Baking Blonde's blog, and the Royal Icing recipe came from Martha Stewart's website. I'll be using these recipes from now on because they were delicious. You have to really watch the sugar cookies and take them out right when the bottoms are a light golden color. Otherwise they will be crispy (still good, but crispy). I like a nice soft sugar cookie.

Sugar Cookie

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (VERY soft)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
In a small bowl stir together the flour and baking powder. Set aside.
In mixing bowl beat butter until soft and smooth. Add in sugar and beat to combine. Add egg and vanilla and beat until just combined. Add flour mixture. Beat until just combined and dough is smooth.
Turn out to floured work surface and roll to 1/3″ thickness. Use cookie cutter to cut desired shapes.
Place cookies on baking sheets and bake for 6-9 minutes until beginning to brown on bottom and around edges.
Cool on counter.
Once cooled, frost with desired frosting.

Royal Icing

Ingredients:
1 pound confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons meringue powder
Scant 1/2 cup water

Directions:
Put sugar and meringue powder in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add water; beat on low speed until think and fluffy, 7 to 8 minutes. If icing is too thick to pipe easily, add a few drops of water. If icing is too thin, add more confectioners' sugar.
Separate into bowls and add food coloring (I used the food coloring gel).
Use icing immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Stir icing before using.

Above is the packaging that the cookies were in along with the "thank you" note from Charlie.

Charlie was on the kitchen rug the whole time watching me make these cookies. Look at those puppy dog eyes.... Bless his little puppy heart!