These cookies are perfect for any holiday or occasion because they’re easy to make and fun to decorate. As a sprinkle cookie, they are fun, festive, and gorgeous on the table! Even better, when rolled in sanding sugar, the brightness of the lemon zest and fruitiness of the extra virgin olive oil comes through to make a very sophisticated sugar cookie that will impress the most discerning palette!
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour (I like unbleached)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
6 oz (1 1/2 sticks) room temperature butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup, or so, of your choice of any kind of sprinkles or sanding sugar
How I make it:
– In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; whisk to combine and set aside.
– In the bowl of stand mixer (fitted with a paddle attachment), cream together butter, sugar, and confectioners sugar, slowly add the olive oil and beat until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
– Add zest and extract, then egg and beat to combine
– Slowly add mix of dry ingredients and mix just until dough comes together.
– Carefully wrap dough in plastic (it will be very soft) and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
– Preheat oven to 325
– Use cookie scoop or rounded tablespoon to measure dough and roll into balls
– Fill a shallow bowl with sanding sugar or sprinkles and roll each ball in sprinkles to cover and transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper, allowing space for the cookies to spread as they bake.
– Bake 13-15 minutes until cookies are just golden around the edges.
– Allow to stand for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cook completely.
– Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.
Tips:
* Bake off only the cookies that you need and freeze the rest of the scoops on a baking sheet and then transfer when frozen to an airtight and labeled freezer bag to have cookies ready bake off when you need them.
* If you prefer a more traditional sugar cookie taste, omit the lemon zest and add a total of 1 Tbsp of vanilla instead.
* To make “Confetti Cookies,” simply mix the sprinkles into the dough before rolling.
* The flavor profile of the cookie dough works well with a variety of chopped nuts and other toppings; get creative and use what you have around!
* I like to roll half of the cookies in sprinkles and half in sanding sugar and make a “Sprinkle & Sparkle Cookie” Platter for parties!
* Even the littlest of kids will enjoy scooping and rolling the cookies in the sprinkles! Get them to help!
These cookies are so delicious and versatile, that they’re sure to become a favorite at your home as they have at mine!
Happy Eating!
