These cookies are sure to cheer up the kids today! Autumn sugar cookies are not only fun to make, but they’re delicious and just as beautiful to look at. Why are they called autumn cookies, though? We’ll try to explain.
When you serve these cookies, everyone will be left speechless – especially the kids! Pumpkins, leaves of all shapes, apples and chestnuts. You get to choose the cookie shapes you want – so long as they’re autumn-themed. Or Halloween-themed for October 31st! With colored frosting, you can make these cookies into little works of art. If you’re already thinking of some cute ideas for Halloween, this definitely needs to make the list.
Making autumn sugar cookies
We chose a slightly different sugar cookie recipe based on hazelnuts for these delightful sweets. It’s perfect for this season – plus, it tastes delicious! To make them, you’ll need to first mix 4 oz of peeled and finely chopped hazelnuts with 4 ½ oz sugar, 7 oz flour and 4 ½ oz butter. When the mixture has a sandy texture, add one whole egg and one egg yolk. Knead the dough again. Then let it rest in the refrigerator for an hour covered in plastic wrap. Flour a pastry board and roll out the cookie dough using a rolling pin. Use stencils to cut out the desired cookie shapes. Bake the cookies at 355°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes. Let the cookies cool before icing and decorating. If you don't like hazelnuts, just make a classic sugar cookie. Flavor it with a mix of spices like cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to keep it seasonal, though!
How to make the frosting
To make a fairly dense sugar frosting, mix 300g of powdered sugar with just a little bit of hot water, adding one teaspoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. Then divide the frosting into several bowls and add the desired food coloring to each. We suggest orange, yellow, red, brown and green for autumn. For Halloween, go for white, orange and black!
Equipment needed
All you need to decorate the cookies is a spatula, a spoon or a knife. For the finishing touches and small details, you can add the icing to a pastry bag with a very thin tip.
Ready-made sugar icing or fondant
If you’re not that skilled with frosting, sugar paste is the easiest to manage when you’re making cookies. You can buy it ready-made at stores that sell bakery products. Alternatively, you can buy ready-made fondant icing that you can roll out and cut out the same shapes as the cookies using stencils. Use jam or food-safe glue to make sure it adheres to the cookie. If desired, polish it and make it a little shinier once applied using slightly dampened paper towels.