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Apple Cutout Sugar Cookies
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I used to be in charge of a cooking class for seniors in a nursing home. The ladies in the class were at all different levels. Some could do their own measuring and follow the directions on the recipe card and others required patience--theirs and mine. For those women, it might take five minutes to fill a one-cup measuring container with flour.
We usually baked cookies. They were easy to make, but more importantly they brought back memories for the women. I asked family members to bring in their mom's favorite recipes, so there was always a story to go along with the cookie recipe of the day. "I remember when I made these cookies..."
Our cookies were popular. Baking class started at 9:30 in the morning, so a little after 10:00 the nursing home employees would start showing up in our kitchen, wondering if we needed a "taste tester". Then we started getting requests, "What are you baking next week? Can I buy some to take home?" And before you knew it the ladies and I were in the cookie-baking business.
The simple, old favorites like peanut butter, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, and oatmeal were good sellers, but so was our Apple Cutout Sugar Cookie. I made some the other day. They're the kind of cookie that looks like a lot of work--they look impressive--but they really take very little time to make.
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Apple Cutout Sugar Cookies
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Frosting:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
Red and green food coloring.
In large mixing bowl, combine the first seven ingredients in order given and mix well. Chill dough 2-3 hours or until easy to handle. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with an apple-shaped cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
For frosting, combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a small bowl. Transfer three-fourths of the frosting into another bowl; add red food coloring for apples. Add green food coloring to remaining frosting for stems. Frost cookies. Allow to sit overnight for frosting to harden.
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