Sparkley Suga' Cookies

I love sugar cookies.

They are light, and fluffy.

Best straight out of the oven.

And can be decorated SO darn CUTE!

Of coarse I think sugar cookies are best smothered in chocolate =]...but that's just me!

Anyways, I do this thing at my church where I teach the 14-16 year old girls, and I absolutely love it! And they love me...when I bring treats..haha

SO I was teaching this lesson on love, and I wanted to make something really cute, BUT, it was ten o'clock at night =] Go figure...and I knew with my body, well I get tired at about 10:15!

But I was determined. I knew I wanted to do a sugar cookie, maybe hearts, but I didn't have the time, nor did I feel like making an incredible huge mess in my kitchen. It made me think that a lot of people don't always have the time to bake...

And that is why I LOVE store bought mixes...ITS OK TO USE THEM AND NOT FEEL GUILTY =]

The best thing about them, is you can make them you own, and still do a heck of a job decorating them...

So I started with my betty crocker sugar cookie mix, but added some almond extract to it.

Then I rolled out though dough,

And cut my shapes out, and placed them on parchment paper. I then let them sit in the fridge for about 20 minutes...I cleaned up and got ready for bed while they chilled =] (Chilling the cookies help them hold shape when they bake, so they don't puff up!)

Then I baked them for about 8-10 minutes, and removed them immediately to a cooling rack, so they wouldn't cook any longer.

And then it was time to decorate them!

I just used a simple recipe for Royal icing, which hardens on the cookie. But you can use store bought frosting. Here is a Royal Icing Recipe:

Royal Icing:

3 cups powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons Meringue Powder

1-2 Tsp. Almond extract

2-4 Tablespoons Water

1 T. Lemon juice(optional for a lemony taste)

Beat all ingredients together until creamy. Should be somewhat thick. You don't want it to watery, or else it won't spread.

You can add any color, or you can DIVA it up and make it sparkle!

To make your cookies shine you can use Luster dust (Found at craft stores in baking section) Add some extract to a little bit of dust and then paint onto dry cookies.

Make sure frosting has dried enough onto cookies.

Seeeee...it's totally ok to use a pre mix! It is quick, easy, and cheap! And no body has to know =]

Make it your own!