Do you remember those old-fashioned Easter bonnets of years past? We’re channeling them into a tasty sweet treat perfect for sharing with your loved ones this Easter. Whether you make them in advance for everyone to enjoy or have the kids in the family help decorate them at your Easter gathering, they’re sure to be a hit!
What you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup prepared cake frosting
- lemon coconut macaroons
- candied lemon zest
- flower-shaped decorative sprinkles
Now, it’s time to learn how to make and decorate these cute little cookies!
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 °F. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugars. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg, zest and vanilla, mixing to combine.
Step 2: In a small bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed, until smooth. Divide dough into 2 balls, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Step 3: Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with round, fluted 2-inch cutters, and place cookies on prepared baking sheet. Chill cookies for 15 minutes before baking.
Step 4: Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on pans for 2 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
Now comes the really fun part—the decorating!
Step 5: Once the cookies are cooled, use food coloring to color your frosting a pastel color of your choice. Using a star-tip, pipe a circle of pastel frosting in the center of your cookie, and gently press the macaroon onto the cookie & frosting. You should see some of the frosting on the outside of the macaroon—this will look like the ribbon around the hat.
Step 6: Use the candied lemon zest and a flower-shaped decorative sprinkle to create a flower and bow on each hat.
Step 7: Enjoy eating these yummy Easter treats and seeing all your guests marvel at just how cute they are!
*Recipe & photo courtesy of Cooking with Paula Deen.
