2011-02-15

Creamsicle Cut Out Cookies


Here's a late Valentine's Day present, an easy, allergy friendly, roll out cookie dough that doesn't need to be refrigerated before being used, is soft and tender but still sturdy enough to stand atop a lollipop stick, and tastes oddly and deliciously like an orange creamsicle.

Creamsicle Cut Out Cookies
(Click here for printable recipe.)

Dry Ingredients:
2 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C corn starch
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:
1 C nondairy margarine, softened
1 C granulated sugar
2 Tbs orange marmalade or orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 tsp vanilla extract
zest of one orange (optional)

Additional:
Vegan Royal Icing (recipe below)
sprinkles!

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Cut parchment paper to size of cookie sheets.  Measure dry ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk together, then set aside.

Cream margarine with sugar until light and fluffy.  Mix in marmalade or orange juice concentrate, vanilla extract and orange zest (if desired).  Slow mixer and gradually add dry ingredients until completely combined.

Spread out one of the pieces of parchment paper on a flat surface.  Place about a quarter to a third of the dough on it.  Cover remaining dough with plastic wrap or place in plastic bag to keep from drying out.  Flatten the dough on the parchment paper into a thick disc by hand, then cover it with a piece of wax (not parchment) paper.  While keeping the wax paper in place on the dough, use a rolling pin to roll it out to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in thickness.  (If planning to make cookie pops, make sure the dough is at least 3/8 inch thick.)  Peel off the wax paper and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes with space between them, but leave them in place on the parchment paper.  Use an offset spatula (preferred) or butter knife to remove the dough from between the cookies.  Gently slide the parchment paper onto a cookie sheet.  The leftover dough may be recycled as many times as needed to use all the dough, since additional flour is not added to roll it out.

Optional step for Cookie Pops:
Use offset spatula to arrange cookies on parchment paper so that lollipop sticks will not overlap.  Gently insert large lollipop sticks into sides of cookies until at least halfway across width of cookie.

Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes and the edges just begin to lightly brown.  Remove from oven and allow cookies to remain on sheet for 5 to 10 minutes to firm up before removing to rack to complete cooling.

Once cookies are completely cool, decorate with royal icing and sprinkles.


 Vegan Royal Icing
(Adapted from The Joy of Vegan Baking.)

1 1/2 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer
2 Tbs water
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 C powdered (confectioners') sugar
food coloring as desired

Combine Egg Replacer, water and lemon juice in a medium bowl and whisk vigorously until frothy.  Add powdered sugar and continue stirring until smooth.  Mix in food coloring.  
(If needed, the thickness of the icing can be adjusted by gradually adding very small amounts of either water or powdered sugar.)



10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to try these. For Valentine's Day I made your Soft Sugar Cookie recipe rolled in red sugar and my kids (and husband) went crazy for them. They looked just like the ones at the grocery store. THANKS.

Alisa said...

Fantastic recipe Libby! I wish you'd had this up at Christmas-time, I had some people looking for egg-free, dairy-free cut out cookie recipes that didn't come out dry.

Nicole said...

These look amazing! Definitely will be trying them

Susan Weissman said...

Just yesterday my FA son came home mourning the fact that he couldn't eat the creamsicles served in the cafeteria that day. I'm so glad to have found this recipe. It's safe for him and I'll try it in exchange!

Lisa said...

What cute little cookies. That creamsicle flavor sounds delightful. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog called Sweets for a Saturday and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link your cookies up. http:/sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/02/sweets-for-saturday-5.html

Meg Luby said...

so cute :)
glad to have found your blog!
-meg
@ http://www.clutzycooking.blogspot.com
@ http://www.myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

what a fantastic recipe! I might have to make some thing like these for my son't birthday so he can take them to school for his friends!

Jen said...

Thanks for the recipe. I love finding things that are safe for my entire family to enjoy.

In addition to a good every day cookie, this sounds like it'd be a great cookie for Christmas.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Libby said...

Zo Zombify, I am so very sorry you reacted to the icing! You could try this icing recipe from Speedbump Kitchen instead.