TICKLED PINK LEMONADE COOKIES

Another great recipe from author Joanne Fluke.

1/2 cup salted, softened butter (do not substitute)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 large egg, beaten
1/3 cup frozen pink (or regular) lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 drops liquid red food coloring (or 1/2 tsp Betty Crocker food color gel)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, packed down when measured

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place oven rack in middle position.

Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the baking powder and baking soda; beat until well combined.

Beat in the egg and lemonade concentrate. Add the food coloring and mix in.

Add flour, approximately 1/2-cup at a time, beating after each addition.

If dough is too sticky to work with, refrigerate about an hour or so. If you do this, turn off oven and turn on again when you remove cookie dough. Be sure oven is preheated again before putting in the cookies.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls, 2-inches apart, on ungreased cookie sheet. (Linda's personal note: I always use parchment-lined cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from oven, cool on cookie sheet approximately 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Frost completely cooled cookies with the following frosting:
2 tbsp salted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 to 4 tsp milk or water (milk makes a creamier frosting)
2 drops red food coloring (or enough to turn frosting pink)

Beat butter and powdered sugar together; mix in lemonade concentrate. Beat in the milk, a little at a time, until frosting is almost but no quite thin enough to spread.

Mix in the food coloring until well combined and color is uniform.

Note: If frosting is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar. If too thick, add a little more milk.

Once frosting dries, cookies may be stored with layers of waxed paper between them.

Yield: 2 1/2 to 3 dozen depending on cookies size.

 

 Note: File Photo