Transform your kitchen table into a winter wonderland with a cookie and cocoa party that looks freshly dusted with snow. Set the table in a snowy style by choosing a cream or silver tablecloth (paper and plastic ones can be found in the anniversary section of party stores). Using white napkins and plates will add a little pop against the tablecloth. Sprinkle the tabletop with snowflake confetti and you’re done with decorations.
Snowballs
Also known as Russian Teacakes, many cultures have a similar version of this cookie because the combination of butter, powdered sugar and almond can’t be beat!
What You Need:
- 3/4 cups unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for rolling
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup finely ground blanched almonds
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
What You Do:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Use stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to cream the butter.
- Add the powdered sugar and salt and combine until light and fluffy. Add the almonds and vanilla until combined. Add the flour and mix until combined.
- Using a cookie scoop (or large tablespoon), shape the dough into 1-inch balls.
- Bake for 20 minutes, cool slightly, and roll cookies into the extra powdered sugar. Makes about two dozen cookies.
Shortbread Snowflakes
This cookie makes for a great activity for the kids. Bake the cookies in the morning, and let the kids decorate them at the party.
What You Need:
- 1 3/4 cups butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 extra large egg, lightly beaten
- 3 cups flour, plus extra flour for dusting your work surface.
What You Do:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy in texture.
- Beat in the egg until well combined. Add the flour and mix on low speed, until the dough is well mixed, making sure not to over mix it.
- Shape the dough into 2-3 discs, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for at least one hour.
- Place the dough on a lightly-floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll out dough. Use a 3- or 4-inch snowflake shaped cookie cutter to make your shapes.
- Place on baking sheet and return to the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Check the cookies half way through the baking time, and rotate your pans (from top to bottom and from back to front). Let cool on a wire rack.
- To decorate the cookies, premade royal icing can be found at most craft stores in the cake decorating section. After icing the cookie, use a white icing pen to outline the snowflake. You can find all sorts of toppings for the cookies, but white sanding sugar and edible silver dragées will make for particularly stunning snowflakes.
By Mindy Wright
Mindy Wright is a cooking instructor and owner of Patacake Parties.
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