Eggnog Cut-Out Cookies

Name: Eggnog Cut-Out Cookies
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 3 dz.
Ingredients: 3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 c. granulated sugar; 2 large egg yolks, room temperature; 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract; 3 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg; 1/3 c. prepared eggnog, room temperature; Easy cookie icing; Red food coloring; Green food coloring

This technique makes decorating a breeze!

By Leah PerezPublished: Dec 5, 2023

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the pioneer woman's eggnog cutout cookies recipe

Will Dickey

Yields:

3 dz.

Prep Time:

1 hr

Total Time:

3 hrs

These sugar cookies are made with real eggnog, egg yolks, and *just* enough nutmeg, and they might become your new favorite cut-out Christmas cookie! The decorating couldn't be easier: You simply dunk the cooled cookies in swirly cookie icing! Serve these with a glass of eggnog for a festive treat.

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Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/3 cup prepared eggnog, room temperature
Easy cookie icing
Red food coloring
Green food coloring

Directions

1. Step 1In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the egg yolks and vanilla, then mix on low until fully combined, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
2. Step 2In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
3. Step 3With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the eggnog, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition.
4. Step 4On a lightly floured work surface, place the dough. Divide the dough in half and form into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Step 5Place one oven rack in the upper third of the oven and a second oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. Step 6Working with 1 disk of dough at a time and keeping the second disk refrigerated, lightly flour a work surface. Roll the dough out until ¼-inch thick. Use a 2- to 3-inch cookie cutter to cut the dough into shapes. Using a thin spatula, transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Refrigerate the scraps.
7. Step 7Bake until the tops are dry and the edges begin to turn golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes on the pan, then move the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough and the scraps, re-rolling only once for smooth cookies.
8. Step 8Mix a batch of easy cookie icing (choose the thicker border icing). It should fall off the whisk in a thick stream and the fallen ribbon of icing should hold its shape for about 10 seconds before sinking back into the bowl of icing. Remove 2 tablespoons of icing each to 2 small bowls. Stir in 1 or 2 drops of red food coloring into one bowl and 1 or 2 drops of green food coloring into the other bowl until the desired colors are reached. Spoon the colorful icing into two separate zip-top bags or piping bags. Use a pair of scissors to snip ⅛ inch off the tip of each bag.
9. Step 9Add additional 1 tablespoon of water, 1 teaspoon at a time, to the remaining white icing until it is at a flooding consistency; the icing falls off the whisk in a fluid stream and the fallen ribbon of icing holds its shape for only a few seconds before sinking back into the bowl of icing. Divide the thinned white icing between two 9-inch baking pans, spreading the icing into an even layer. Drizzle the red icing all over one pan of icing and drizzle the green icing over the second pan. One at a time, put the cookies face-side down in the icing. Take the cookies out one at a time, twisting and shaking gently to let any extra icing drip off, and return to the cooling rack.
10. Step 10Allow the cookies to dry completely, 8 hours or overnight. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.