Ingredients for cookies
1 stick of butter at room temperature
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light molasses
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
Ingredients for icing
2 egg whites
4 1/4 cups (1 pound) confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon water (optional)
Green food coloring
Yellow food coloring
Directions for cookies
-
Trace or draw the cookie shape shown above. Tape it onto cardboard and cut it out to make your cookie pattern.
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using 1 teaspoon of butter grease a large baking sheet.
-
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the remaining butter and and remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the molasses until well blended.
-
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Whisk them together to mix well.
-
Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until well blended. Beat in about 1/4 cup of milk, then add the remaining flour mixture, beating it well. If it is crumbly, add a little extra milk as needed. Gather the dough into a ball and pack firmly together.
-
On a a well-floured surface, roll the dough until it is 1/2 inch thick.
-
Lay the flower pattern on the dough and cut around it with a knife to make each cookie. Transfer the cutouts to the baking sheet.
-
Bake for 7 or 8 or minutes or until the cookies are puffed and spring back when pushed with your finger. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Directions for icing
-
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and 4 cups of confectioners’ sugar until very stiff, about 10 minutes. If icing is too stiff, add a teaspoon of water. If too thin, add 1/4 cup more of confectioners’ sugar.
-
Put about 4 tablespoons of the icing in a bowl and add a few drops of green food coloring.
-
Put about 2 tablespoons of the icing in another bowl and add a few drops of yellow food coloring coloring.
-
Using a knife or a small spatula, ice the daisy cookies.
Makes about 16 cookies.
