December Baking Challenge!!!

Let’s kick off December with a new baking challenge! This month is all about cookie baking right? So let’s challenge ourselves and make decorated sugar cookies!

We’re back with a second baking challenge! And I am hoping each month we do this it just keeps growing and growing. Each month I am hoping to challenge you to try a new recipe, new technique and really expand your baking skills. And I thought what better than to try your hand at some decorated sugar cookies.

So let’s just jump in to the challenge shall we?

Here is how to participate in the challenge:

1. Make these decorated sugar cookies. Of course you can go ahead and get creative and make them all yours. Don’t like almond extract? Use all vanilla. Maybe a bit of peppermint for a festive touch.  If royal icing scares the bejeezus out of you, then you could use my buttercream frosting recipe. Or heck just cover in some sprinkles. It all works. It all counts!
2. Take a photo and share it by December 31, 11:59 EST. You have two options on how to share your photo:
   1.  Share on Instagram. Just be sure to tag me – @bostongirlbakes and use the hashtag #bostongirbakes
   2. Facebook Community – I have started a brand new private Facebook group just for us! If you’re not already inside, click here to request access. Please note that I approve everyone manually to ensure the community remains a fun and friendly place, so it may take several days for your request to be approved.You can submit to one or the other, or to BOTH for two entries. Woo hoo double entries 🙂

The Prize

This month I will be giving away a baking gift set worth $50!

Every person who submits a photo following those directions will be entered into the random giveaway! No purchase necessary.

And don’t worry about taking that perfect photo.  The winner will be selected randomly. Your photos may be put on display to share with my entire audience! I will message the winner via the platform they posted the photo on (Facebook or Instagram). Winner must reply with their address to receive the gift. If there’s no response within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

So what do you think?! Are you up for this month’s baking challenge?!

Tips On Making These Cut Out Sugar Cookies

• You want to make sure to properly measure your flour accurately by scooping and levelling with a flat edge. For best accuracy I recommend using a kitchen scale. For a complete how and why you should measure your flour accurately you can read this post.
• Make sure your egg is at room temperature before adding to your dough so it combines accurately. I place the egg in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes before using it.
• You need to make sure to use room temperature butter. If the butter is too cold, the sugar cannot probably cream together with the butter and aerate the mixture. Here are 3 easy ways to bring butter to room temperature quickly. For more information on what butter does in cookies, read this post.
• Make sure to not handle the dough too much when rolling it out which can warm up the dough and cause the cookies to spread.
• Chilling is a must. When you are rolling out and cutting out your cookies. You can always pop the whole cookie sheet back in the fridge for a few minutes before popping them in the oven.
• Be careful not to let these cookies brown. Ten minutes worked like magic for me, but hey your oven is not mine. Start with 8 minutes and go from there. I like to have my cookie slightly browned on the bottom and then just a hint on the sides. Watch it carefully. Sugar cookies can go quickly from perfect to overbaked before you know it.
• If you are using the same cookie sheet again and again, make sure it is completely cooled before placing more cookies on for them to bake.
• I like rotate the cookie sheets halfway through baking. Ovens hot spots which can cause uneven baking.
• Don’t feel like making all these cookies at once? Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for later. I wrapped mine in plastic wrap and then put in a large Ziploc bag. When I was ready to make more, I simply pulled it out the freezer and let it defrost on the counter for a few hours. Freezing cookies and other desserts is how I survive the holidays. Get my FULL freezer guide here.

I can’t wait to see all of your gorgeous decorated sugar cookies!

-Happy baking!