Iced Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
These dark chocolate peppermint sugar cookie cut-outs are decorated with pink and red candy cane stripes of royal icing! Follow my video tutorial and enjoy this fun and festive holiday recipe.
Servings: 46 cookies (1/4 in thick, 2 in diameter)
Calories: 30kcal
Ingredients
- 1 batch Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies (with 1 teaspoon peppermint extract added to the dough), baked and cooled completely
Royal Icing
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5 tablespoons water
- 2 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- Additionally- gel paste food coloring and a few teaspoons more water to thin the icing to the proper consistency.
Instructions
To Make the Royal Icing
- Place the meringue powder and water in a large bowl and whisk until all the powder has dissolved and the mixture is frothy.
- Add the powdered sugar and stir until combined.
- Whip on high speed until the icing is very fluffy and stiff, about 5-7 minutes. It should hold stiff peaks.
- Transfer to an air-tight container until ready to tint and pipe.
To tint and thin to proper consistency:
- Spoon about 1/2 cup of royal icing into a small bowl and add a few drops of gel-paste color. Stir in until desired color is reached. (Some colors, such as red and black, will deepen over time.)
- Add water, about an eighth of a teaspoon at a time, until the icing is the consistency of Elmer's glue. It should smooth over on its own after a few seconds.
- Place in piping bags fitted with decorating tips, and turn them tip side down into a drinking glass lined with wet paper towels.
- Use immediately. (Royal Icing will become thin and runny, and may separate, over the course of about 24 hours.)
Notes
Thinning to the proper consistency is key. Too thick, and the icing won't smooth over and may have a bumpy appearance. Too thin, and it may run right off the side of the cookie. Be sure to add water just a few drops at a time until the icing is just thin enough to smooth over after a few seconds.
Allow the iced cookies to dry/cure overnight, uncovered. The hardened icing forms a protective barrier that prevents the cookies from becoming stale.
Decorated cookies will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container, at room temperature.
©
Nutrition
Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Sodium: 2mg | Sugar: 7g