Paintbrush Cookies
With Easter right around the corner, sugar cookies are springing their way back into our lives. With kids, decorating is usually the part they’re most interested in and the whole rolling, cutting, baking, waiting, decorating of sugar cookies…it’s, a lot. Like, hours of devotion to the dang things. Kinda kills the whole instantaneous factor to a baking craft that kids love so much (and truthfully, us adults too). These cookies are a throwback to my childhood, and they are the best way to keep kids attention for the full process (because it won’t take long!). Using the yolks of raw eggs, you simply food dye the yolks and paint the cookies BEFORE baking. Yes, before! They come out with bold, saturated designs, ready to eat the moment they’re cool enough to handle. Everyone gets the opportunity to paint their creations custom to how they like them. It’s almost a hybrid craft between dip-dying eggs and sugar cookies. Two birds one stone, amirite? You can use any sugar cookie recipe for this, but we’ve included a very simple one for you that you can prepare ahead of time before you’re ready for this little recipe craft.
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 5 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- FOR PAINTING: 4 egg yolks, food coloring
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutter
- 4 small bowls
- Paint Brushes
- Mixer / Hand Mixer (to make the dough)
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Sheet
- If you're not using a pre-made sugar cookie dough, follow these instructions. If not, skip ahead to the rolling, cutting, painting steps 😉
- Cream your butter and sugar together, then add egg and vanilla and mix until smooth. Slowly add in the rest of your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt). Mix.
- Chill your cookie dough in the fridge for an hour, or overnight (wrapped in seran wrap or a large ziploc bag)
- Once your dough is chilled (or bought), preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Flour your surface, and roll out your cookie dough, then cut out using a cookie cutter (we used egg shapes for Easter!). Your dough should be about 1/4 inch thick.
- Place your cut outs onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Separate 4 eggs and put the yolks into 4 different bowls, and add food coloring (about 5-6 drops of dye in each bowl). Mix.
- Paint the tops of the UNBAKED cookies in any designs you choose.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes or until slightly golden brown on the bottom. The painted designs should look glossy and bright.
- Eat 'em up!
