A Sugar Cookie

I have been on the lookout for a good recipe to re-create the smiley face cookies that I had as a child.  These are the large sugar cookies that had the hard glaze over them.  I discovered the glaze but the cookie always seems to evade me.  I have been making sugar cookies over the past couple of months to try to re-create them.  Although the sugar cookie in this post isn’t the right one for the smiley face cookie, it is super tasty.  It is light and fluffy with a great flavor, a perfect sugar cookie.   The one that I strive for, is harder and crunchier and a tad bit sweeter.  Not the definition of a perfect sugar cookie, but the perfect cookie to recreate my childhood memories.  Anyway I had to post about this cookie, because out of the bunch, it tasted really good.

As you can see, I painted the eyes and mouth before the first glaze completely hardened.  Thus, giving me a not so perfect smiley face.  🙁

Smiley Face Sugar Cookies

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbs baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups flour – plus a little more for flouring the board

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp milk
• 2 tsp light corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• food coloring

Making the Cookies

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a mixing bowl cream together the shortening and the sugar.  Once light and fluffy add the eggs one at a time.  Once the eggs are incorporated add the milk slowly.

Whip until everything is fully incorporated.  While the wet mixture is coming together sift the flour and baking powder together.

Slowly add the flour to the wet mixture.  The dough will be extremely stiff.  You may have to turn off the mixer and finish incorporating the flour by hand.

Dust the counter with flour and then turn the cookie dough out onto the counter.  Roll out the dough until it is 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into desired shapes and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  I wanted a large round cookie.  I could not find an appropriate sized cookie cutter so I used a cereal bowl as my die.  It worked perfectly.

Bake for 12-15 minutes in the preheated 400 degree oven.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool on the sheet for 1 minute.  Then transfer to a rack  to cool completely.

Glaze

To make the glaze, add the powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup and vanilla to a bowl.  Mix until smooth.  If you feel the mixture is too thick, add a bit more corn syrup to the mix.

If making smiley face cookies, place a little of the glaze in a separate bowl and color both portions of glaze.   Place smaller portion into a piping bag or zip top bag.  This will keep it from drying out.  Glaze the cookies with the main glaze.  You can pour it on and then use a brush to make sure the whole cookie is coated.   Let the glaze dry for 5-10 minutes and then paint on the faces with the piping bag or zip top bag.

Enjoy!!