Pretty, Pastel Springtime Cookies
These pretty, pastel springtime cookies are almost too pretty to eat. I did say, “almost”. They’re not just great for Valentine’s day and Easter, but make a great hostess gift, too.
Originally published March 26, 2013
Yes, I know, just last week I made flower cupcakes and now I’m enticing you to make these lovely little Easter cookies (or biscuits–depending on where you live).
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Given what the weather’s been like in places like the East Coast and the UK this past week, I understand if you’re not getting that springtime “feeling” quite yet. I get it; I have lived in Scotland and Michigan, so I empathize with you. However, it’s just a matter of time before the sun will be shining, and flowers will be bursting into bloom.
These little floral cookies are perfect for your Easter festivities. Here’s a great tip: you can make these and decorate the tops, up to a week ahead of time! Just sandwich them together with jam on the day you plan to eat them or gift them.
If you recall, last December I was an LA Times 2012 Top 10 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner with my Snow Cookies recipe. Well, these Springtime Cookies are made with that exact same recipe, and by adding a little color (if desired) to the icing, and instead of sprinkling coconut on the top cookie, I placed a flower before the icing dried. Aren’t they lovely?
How perfect are these for a baby or bridal shower? What about putting 4 in a little pastry box, tying on a beautiful pastel ribbon and giving them as a hostess gift, or just because you’re a wonderful person who likes to surprise friends and family with a thoughtful gift for no reason?!
You can either make the little flowers with Royal Icing, as I did (future post!) or purchase ready-made decorative sugar flowers. Truly, you could turn these into any theme you like by just using different colored icings and themed toppings. For example, green icing with farm animals for a children’s party, or pink and blue icing with rattles and pacifiers for a baby shower.
You can also use different shaped cookie cutters to make single cookies, and decorate them without the flowers on top. These are simply decorated with powdered/confectioner’s sugar and water to a flowing consistency; super easy!
Regardless of how you decorate them, they will be delicious.
Printable recipe is below for these…
Pretty, Pastel Springtime Easter Cookies
recipe by Christina Conte (printable recipe below)
After you’ve made the cookies and matched them up into pairs, it’s time to decorate the top half. I always choose the best ones for the top. Mix the icing.
Start with a cup of powdered/confectioner’s sugar and just start adding water or milk (half teaspoonful at a time to begin) and stirring until a smooth, and thick/runny consistency is achieved. You can test it on a spare cookie and if it runs off too quickly, add more sugar. Too thick? Add more liquid, but just a tiny bit can make a big difference, so go easy. I like using a condiment bottle to decorate the cookies.
However, it’s not a necessity as a butter knife or small spoon can do the trick, too. The following photo shows the proper consistency of the icing.
Once they are iced, add decorations as desired. When completely set (at least a few hours), they can be sandwiched together with your favorite jam. Personally, I love raspberry, but I sometimes use plum, cherry or strawberry jam. Store in an airtight container when they are completely dry. A biscuit tin is perfect.
Springtime/Easter Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 oz salted butter (softened)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (good quality, sifted)
- ¼ cup raspberry jam (approximately ½ tsp per cookie -see notes)
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar (powdered/icing sugar, sifted)
- 2 Tbsp water (or milk - use a little at a time - see notes)
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar together, then add flour and mix until a dough forms.
- Place half of the dough onto to a well-floured surface, and roll out to about ¼" thickness. Cut with a round cookie cutter (I use a 2" or 2 ½" cutter.)
- Using a metal spatula or turner, lift each cookie then place onto a prepared cookie sheet (I like to use a silicone sheet) and bake in a 350º F oven for 8-10 minutes.
- They should not start to brown. (I turn my trays around halfway through baking to make sure they cook evenly.)
- Remove the tray from the oven and set aside for a few minutes before transferring cookies onto a cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Allow to cool completely, then pair off similar shaped cookies together, placing the smoothest cookie on top.
- Prepare the icing: Mix together confectioner's sugar and milk; the icing should be the consistency of Elmer's Glue (it will look like it too!) Color it into pastel colors of your choice.
- Spread or pipe some icing on each top cookie only; do not ice all of them. I love to use a condiment style bottle to do the outline, then fill in the center. It's really fun, and easy enough for kids to do!
- Set aside with its mate and before the icing sets, add a little royal icing flower. I usually let these dry overnight; they need at least 6 hours for the icing to set.
- When the icing is dry, sandwich the cookies together with some raspberry jam. Place a few on a festive plate, or box them up for a lovely gift!
Notes
- When mixing the icing, start by adding a spoonful of liquid at a time until the right consistency is reached. You may need more or less than the amount of water or milk indicated.
- Invest in a good-quality jam, it will make your cookies taste better - I like Mackay's or Bonne Maman jam.
Nutrition
Here are another couple of recipes with a springtime theme from Cynthia at What a Girl Eats.
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These are so very pretty! I love the varying sizes and how they look together. I can only imagine how delicious they must be! Lovely.
Hi Christina,
these look adorable… I especially like the bunnies version – too cute!
A question… to me, the recipe looks like what we here in Australia would call “Shortbread”… are they the same? Or is shortbread different (and we just have it muddled up in Oz)…
Hi Wendy, thank you! Shortbread is made with butter, sugar and flour, too, but the traditional Scottish shortbread is quite different, as I’m sure you know. Do you call these shortbread and also the Scottish version shortbread, too?
You’ll have to pardon my ignorance in this regard, Christina… I had no idea there were different types of shortbread! Would you be so kind as to explain the different variations for me? I am so curious now!
I would say there’s a classic Scottish shortbread, which to me is butter, sugar and flour and baked quite thick. Then there’s the version with rice flour, or an egg, or added ingredients to flavor the shortbread, like coconut, for example. Then there are the biscuits which are made like traditional shortbread (butter, sugar and flour) but made to look like these cookies, so I think it’s just a matter of what one’s preference is to naming each type. :)
Cookie perfection!
Ha! I wish, but thank you, anyway, Cathy!
Adorable cookies … the decorations make them very special.
Thank you so kindly!
I live in ohio and come from Scotland I make all this food love your page. I also make the traditional British wedding cake with the marzipan and royal iceing my girlfriend sent me your page glad she did
Goodness, I apologize for missing this comment from 2 years ago, Maggie! Thank you, SO much! :)
These cookies with the cute flowers on top look so beautiful! Flowers blossoming in the snow :)
Thank you, Medeja! You are so sweet with your comments! :)
How beautiful, I wish I could master the roses, mine look awful. More practice I guess. Your cookies are so pretty and perfect for Easter. I should make some for the girls, they will love it!
I don’t know, Suzanne, the icing needs to be the right consistency, which will make a big difference in your end result. Maybe it’s not your skill in piping, but the icing not being the right consistency? Anyway, good luck and Have a happy Easter! CC
You have totally inspired me to take a cake decorating class! I always say that I make food that may not be pretty, but tastes good. I think I’m ready to start tackling the pretty part!
Just beautiful. I can’t imagine how lovely it would be to receive a box of these as a gift.
That’s so sweet of you to say, Susan! I really enjoy cake decorating, it is such a creative outlet. I will be anxious to hear how you are getting on! ;) Have a lovely Easter! CC