Get Festive with Adorable ‘Nutcracker’ Cookies

For many people Nutcrackers and the Nutcracker production are part of the their holiday traditions. Disney Family has the perfect way add to this tradition with adorable cookies that look like the famous ‘Nutcracker’.

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Ingredients

• GINGERBREAD COOKIES:
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• Cookie cutter or paring knife
• ICING:
• 4 cups (about 1lb) confectioner’s sugar
• 6 tbsp warm water
• 3 tbsp meringue powder
• Pastry bags
• #3 tip
• Gel food coloring (red, pink, black, and yellow)
• Edible gold glitter
• Gold sugar pearls

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Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, allspice, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Set aside.

2. In a stand mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add molasses and mix until combined. Add the egg. Then add the flour mixture and mix until a dough is formed.

3.  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

4.  Remove the dough from the fridge and preheat the oven to 350° F. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Cut out rectangles using a cookie cutter or paring knife. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Then allow to cool completely before decorating.

5.  Now make your royal icing. Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a stand mixer).

6. For stiffer icing (used for outlining), use 1 tablespoon less water. For the thinned (flood) royal icing, add an additional teaspoon of water at a time until you reach a good consistency.

7. Separate frosting in bowls to mix in different food coloring. Place in frosting bags and decorate. Use a #3 tip to outline or add features and just a piping bag for the “flood” icing.

8. For the hat, pipe on royal icing on the top half of the cookie then sprinkle on edible glitter while icing is still wet. On the bottom half of the cookie, pipe on red icing for the coat. Allow to set for 2 hours. Use black icing for the eyes, mustache, and coat details then add gold sugar pearls. Use pink icing for the cheeks and mouth. Use yellow icing for the strap and coat details.

Add these adorable cookies to your holiday tradition this year.

Source: Disney Family