Miniature Cookie Houses
Author/Submitted by: Servings: 1 Categories:
Cookies
/
Desserts
Ingredients:
-----FOR COOKIE HOUSE----- 4 1/2
c
Flour (may need up to 5) 2
tsp
Baking powder 1/2
tsp
Salt 1
c
Margarine,
room temperature
2
c
Sugar 2
Eggs 2
tbsp
Milk 2
tsp
Vanilla extract
Egg wash
-----FOR DECORATING----- 1
#
-- 5
-- #7 round and #27 sta
Three decorating bags
Decorating icing
Colored sugar
Assorted candies
Decorating bag with coupler
Directions:
Make the cookie dough: Stir or whisk together 4 1/2 cups of the flour,
the baking powder and salt; set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until
light; add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and beat well.
Gradually add the dry ingredients and blend to form a smooth ball of
dough. If the dough is sticky, add just enough of the remaining flour to
eliminate the stickiness. The dough should not be dry. Divide the dough in
half, wrap each ball in plastic and refrigerate for several hours, or
until firm enough to roll.
Meanwhile, cut cardboard templates for the base and the three parts of the
cookie house. The dimensions are as follows: THE BASE:
is a circle 6" across (cut 1) THE SIDE: is a rectangle 2 3/8" x 3 1/2"
(cut 2) THE FRONT/BACK: is funny shaped. It's 3" wide and 4 1/4" tall
(total height). From the bottom to the beginning of the "roof" section is
2 3/8". At 2 3/8" cut up to form the "roof" top like an upside down "V"
(cut 2). Finally cut the ROOF: it's a rectangle 2 3/4" x 4 1/4".
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a flour-dusted cookie sheet or the back of
one jelly roll pan, roll out one ball of dough to 1/8"-1/4" thick. For
each house cut one base, two sides, two front/back pieces, and two roof
pieces. Lay out the cardboard patterns on the dough, leaving 1 1/2"
between them. The layout will depend on the size of your cookie sheet and
how many houses you are making. Use a sharp knife to cut around each
template, removing excess dough as you cut. Wipe the knife frequently.
Repeat the rolling and cutting process to make the remaining pieces. If
you want some small trees in front of your house, make them using a cookie
cutter.
Bake both sheets of cookies at the same time, for 10-15 minutes reemoving
pieces when they are done (preferable to overbake than underbake since we
need firm cookies). The cookies may brown, but this is O.K. Transfer
immediately to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate the pieces before assembling the houses. You can do this many
ways. Mostly use your imagination. Frost or pipe/apply candies to the
"wet" icing. To "sugar-coat" areas, brush on egg-wash (being careful not
to touch any piping or decorations); then sprinkle immediately with
colored sugar. Tap gently to shake off excess sugar.
Set aside to dry for half an hour.
Next to assemble houses. Use the #7 icing tip . Pipe a thick line of icing
along edges to be put together and "glue" the houses together and on the
base. Make sure to do one area at a time and hold until icing sets. Let
all set for a few minutes. When icing is firm, do any finishing touches.
MAKES THREE COOKIE HOUSES WITH BASES The Christmas Kitchen by Lorraine
Bodger
|