When I was a kid, a big round bright yellow smiley face sugar cookies was my favorite treat from the local bakery. I’m thousands of miles away from my favorite treat now, so I found a may to make these at home!
I’m not sure what I love more – Star Wars sugar cookies or Smiley Face Sugar Cookies! Next to chocolate chip cookies, I think a big old smiley face sugar cookie is my favorite cookie ever. Well, maybe except snickerdoodles…. But really, these cookies will brighten anyone’s day!
The dough for these cookies is super easy and yummy. I left it in the fridge for a few days and it was fine. Just let it sit out a bit to soften up when you are ready to roll and cut. I spent about a week hunting down “powdered egg whites” for the frosting in the baking aisle. Turns out that Wilton sells it as meringue powder
so it is by all the cake decorating items. I was not a fan of the frosting when I taste tested it, but my kids and husband liked it. On the cookie, it actually tasted just fine, though. I guess I’m just not used to Royal Icing.
Smiley Face Cookies
Ingredients
- For the cookies:
- 3/4 cups butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- For the icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons powdered egg whites/meringue
- 7 Tablespoons water
- Food coloring
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg and extract until incorporated, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed.
Slowly add the flour and mix until combined.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
When ready to use, allow dough to warm up just a bit.
Roll out dough, using flour if necessary to prevent sticking, to just around 1/4" thick.
Cut out circles in desired sizes - 2-3 1/2 inches works well. I like to use a glass.
Put cut out cookies on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or just until they begin to brown around the edges.
Allow cookies to cool completely.
To make the icing:
Combine all ingredients except food coloring in the bowl of an electric mixer.
Beat on low until mixed and then turn up speed to high and beat for 6 minutes.
Divide icing - tint most of the icing the color of your smiley faces and a smaller portion the color of your eyes and mouth.
Ice cookies the main color first and allow to dry completely before adding eyes and mouth.
Recipe from Family Circle.
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