Smiley Face Cookies
Seeing a smiling face is always a cheerful sight, especially if it comes in the form of a tasty treat! These smiley cookies will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
The base of these cookies are classic butter cookies. I choose these because they have a rich buttery flavor and are easy to make. Butter cookies also have a melt-in-your-mouth consistency that will bring you back for more.
Good old-fashioned butter cookies are hard to beat. I love these because they have a perfect flavor. They are light and not too sweet so they will pair perfectly with the royal icing.
What Is Royal Icing?
Royal icing can be used on everything from sugar cookies to cakes, and it is a staple in the world of baking.
Once dry, it looks flawless and will leave your friends and family amazed. Most think it is difficult, but in reality, it is very simple and requires little time.
There are three main types of royal icing: stiff consistency, piping consistency, and flood consistency. For this recipe, I am using a flood consistency.
The stiff consistency is used for decorating cakes, and when you need to create stiff peaks. The best way to describe it is to compare it with cake frosting or buttercream.
The piping consistency is used if you want to create décor on the cookies. Some compare it in terms of texture to toothpaste or soft-serve ice cream.
Flood icing is perfect for covering the entire cookie. The texture of this is similar to honey. This is the thinnest of all and takes the longest to dry. However, once dried, it is nicely flat and has a smooth surface.
The test to check consistency is to draw a knife through it. The amount of time needed for the mixture to come together will determine which type of icing you have whipped up.
Stiff royal icing: when you draw a line the line will never disappear, as this is very thick, just like buttercream.
Piping consistency: this is great for creating décor on the cookies as well as the outline. The icing should flow nice and smooth out of the piping bag. When it comes to the knife test, the piping will come together after 20 seconds.
Flood consistency: the most important thing to have in mind when making flood consistency is not to make it too thin. Try to keep your flood icing no less than 5 seconds when you cut it through. The icing that comes before that may be too thin.
How To Make Royal Icing
Royal icing can be made two ways, with real egg white or meringue powder. Meringue powder is maybe not available for all, so I went with an egg whites mixture.
They are the same, but with the egg whites, you’ll have a few minutes more of whipping the egg whites.
To make the royal icing you will need:
- Egg whites
- Powdered sugar
- A bit of lemon juice
- Desired food coloring
In a large bowl, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt and beat until soft peaks form. Add in lemon juice, and gradually start adding powdered sugar.
Beat until all the sugar is well combined. Whisk in desired food coloring and spread the icing over the cookies.
How To Decorate The Cookies
Decorating cookies is easier than you may think. I know some online videos show a variety of methods and ways to decorate your cookies, but these are simple to make.
This is a stress-free method that involves a simple icing that anyone can pull off.
Here’s how to decorate the smiley face cookies:
- Once you make your cookies, cool them completely before you start decorating them.
- Fill a plain piping bag with the prepared icing and spread it over the cookies.
- Leave some edges free and grab a toothpick or a skewer.
- Spread the icing in an even layer using a toothpick or a skewer by pushing it to the sides with a toothpick tip.
- Set the cookies aside for 15 minutes so the first layer of icing can be dried, before you paint your eyes and smile.
- To make the smiley face, use a piping bag with a narrow tip and pipe out the happy smiley face.
- Set the cookies aside for another 25 minutes before serving.
Smiley Face Cookies
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 12 minutes
Additional time: 25 minutes (to set)
Servings: 12 cookies
Ingredients
For The Cookies:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For The Royal Icing:
- 2 egg whites
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- Gel food color, yellow and black
Instructions
To make the cookies, beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until fluffy.
Fold in egg and vanilla extract and beat until well incorporated.
Fold in flour and salt. Stir until the dough comes together.
Shape the dough into a log.
Wrap the dough in a plastic foil and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cut the log into 12 slices and arrange these on a baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes.
Once baked, set them aside to cool completely.
To make the icing, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
Add in lemon juice and start gradually adding sugar. Beat until you have a smooth mixture.
Take 2-3 tablespoons of the icing and color it with black coloring. Color the rest of the icing with yellow color.
Spoon the icing into 2 piping bags. The one with yellow icing should just be a plain piping bag, and the piping bag with the black mixture should have a narrow piping nozzle.
Pipe the icing over the cookies and using the toothpick to distribute it evenly. Place the cookies aside for 15 minutes.
Draw the smiley face with the black icing and let the icing set completely.
Serve your cookies with a smile!
Smiley Face Cookies
An easy recipe for cheerful cookies that will bring a smile to anyone's face!
Ingredients
For The Cookies:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For The Royal Icing:
- 2 egg whites
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- Gel food color, yellow and black
Instructions
- To make the cookies, beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until fluffy.
- Fold in egg and vanilla extract and beat until well incorporated.
- Fold in flour and salt. Stir until the dough comes together.
- Shape the dough into a log.
- Wrap the dough in a plastic foil and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut the log into 12 slices and arrange these on a baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes.
- Once baked, set them aside to cool completely.
- To make the icing, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
- Add in lemon juice and start gradually adding sugar. Beat until you have a smooth mixture.
- Take 2-3 tablespoons of the icing and color it with black coloring. Color the rest of the icing with yellow color.
- Spoon the icing into 2 piping bags. The one with yellow icing should just be a plain piping bag, and the piping bag with the black mixture should have a narrow piping nozzle.
- Pipe the icing over the cookies and using the toothpick to distribute it evenly. Place the cookies aside for 15 minutes.
- Draw the smiley face with the black icing and let the icing set completely.
- Serve your cookies with a smile!
