Shaped Sugar Cookies with Frosting or Glaze

Shaped Sugar Cookies

 4-6 dozen depending on size and shape of cookies.
This recipe uses Flax Meal in warm water to substitute as a sticky egg, creating the speckles in the dough.

Christmas Cookies with Frosting 2013

2 T flax meal in 1/3 cup warm water

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 cup Spectrum Shortening

1 T. vanilla

1 cup brown rice flour

1 cup white rice flour

2/3 cup arrowroot starch

1/3 cup tapioca starch

1/2 cup powdered sugar
 3/4 tsp. baking powder

                                                        1/2 tsp. baking soda

                                                        1/2 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix flax meal in warm water, set aside.

Cream sugar and shortening in large mixing bowl until well blended.  Add flax meal and vanilla.  Beat well.

Combine dry ingredients.  Gradually add to creamed mixture at low speed until well blended.

Refrigerate 1 hour.  Lightly flour surface with rice flour (I like to use a pastry cloth to prevent sticking to the counter).  Place a ball of cookie dough down and roll or pat out to about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out with desired shaped cookie cutters.  Place on baking sheet and bake 5-9 min. depending on size and thickness of the cookie.  Cool 2 min and remove from sheet to rack.

Unfrosted baked cookies

Frosting

1/2 cup Spectrum Shortening
1/2 cup Earth Balance soy free Natural Buttery Spread
4-5 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-2 T. rice milk

Cream shortening and "butter".  On low speed, add 1 cup powdered sugar until combined.  Add vanilla.  Add another cup powdered sugar until combined.  Add 1 T. rice milk.  Continue to alternate sugar and milk until desired consistency.  Less sugar-3 cups makes thinner frosting for writing.  4 cups makes medium for piping decor.  5 cups makes thicker frosting, spreading.

Glaze

This glaze dries to a shiny firm finish. 

However, after 2-3 days it will start to show it's spots when used on the above cookie recipe.  (For some reason not on regular wheat, milk, egg containing cookies).  This is the best way to describe it.  You will have to make these recipes and let them sit for 2-3 days to see it.

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T. light corn syrup

2 T. water

10 drops food coloring

In a small bowl, mix all but food coloring together.  Stir in food coloring if desired.  Stir the glaze each time you use it.  May need to keep it covered as well to avoid hardening.  Spread THINLY on cookies.  Can be used as a base for decorating with above frosting.