Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies

Happy Thanksgiving! This year I followed the lead of a great friend and made some very festive Fall sugar cookies. These cookies are made the typical way with just a few changes. Instead of all regular sugar, these are made with half regular and half brown sugar. They are also seasoned with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. They are delicious and so fun to give away as gifts! ET gave some to his friends at daycare, and delivered some to all the teachers and staff at his preschool. :)

Recipe from C Love

1 c. shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

4 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
5 T. milk

Cream shortening and sugars together; add egg and beat well, add vanilla extract. Mix dry ingredients together and slowly add to sugar and egg mixture, alternating with milk. Chill until able to handle (at least 4 hours; I like to refrigerate mine overnight). Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut out with your favorite cookie cutters. Bake at 350 for 8 - 10 minutes on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Royal Icing:
3-3/4 to 4 cups Powdered Sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
5 to 6 tablespoons warm water

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat on high speed with a mixer until peaks form. Yield: 3 cups. You may want to add a little more water so it’s not too stiff and easier to outline the cookies. Outline cookies with cake frosting tip.

Glaze:
1 T. Butter, melted
1 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 T. Corn Syrup
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 T. Milk

Mix all ingredients with a wire whisk – add additional milk carefully until you reach desired consistency. You will probably want to double this recipe.
Once colored, pour into squeeze bottles. Fill in cookies once the royal icing has hardened. (*This recipe will fill one squeeze bottle. I will double or triple the recipe depending on how many colors I need.)

After the cookies have set overnight, I sprayed the top of the leaf cookies a bit with Wilton Color Mists.