Description
Technicolor Cookies are festive, spice-infused rectangular cookies decorated with vibrant royal icing ribbons in multiple colors. This recipe combines warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom with a bright orange zest flavor in a tender cookie base, finished with beautifully colored, glossy royal icing for a stunning presentation perfect for special occasions and gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 2 1/2 cups (320 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or 1 teaspoon freshly crushed cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 3/4 cup (169 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest (from about 2 large navel oranges)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
Royal Icing
- 6 cups (680 grams or 1 1/2 pounds) powdered sugar
- 6 tablespoons (50 grams) meringue powder
- 2/3 cup water (plus more as needed)
- Gel food coloring in 4 different colors
Instructions
- Make the cookie dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, baking powder, and kosher salt until evenly combined.
- Cream butter mixture: Using an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, orange zest, vanilla extract, and egg until smooth and fluffy. Then add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until just combined to form the dough.
- Roll and chill dough: Lay a 12-by-16-inch sheet of parchment paper on your work surface. Place the dough on top and cover with a second piece of parchment paper. Roll the dough out evenly to a 1/4-inch thickness, squaring off the edges. Place the dough, still between the parchment sheets, onto a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 30 minutes.
- Prepare the royal icing: In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 2/3 cup water and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until the icing is thick and glossy, approximately 7 minutes. The icing should drizzle slowly and take about 10 seconds to reincorporate when dripped back into the bowl. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time as needed to achieve this consistency.
- Color the icing: Divide the white royal icing into five bowls. Tint four of the bowls with different gel food coloring, leaving one bowl white. Cover the bowls and allow the icing to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven and prep sheets: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut the cookies: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and quickly cut into 1-by-2 1/2-inch rectangles. If the dough starts to get warm while cutting, return the pieces to the fridge or freezer until firm. Arrange the cookie rectangles on the prepared baking sheets about 1/4 inch apart.
- Bake and cool: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until the cookies are golden brown. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the cooled cookies edge-to-edge in rows of 8.
- Decorate with icing: Place a wire rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Put spoonfuls of each colored icing side-by-side into a small bowl to create parallel bands of color. Using a spoon or spatula, drizzle thin ribbons of icing back and forth over the cookies, covering gaps by moving left to right and right to left until the icing is used. Carefully separate the cookies with an offset spatula and transfer them one by one to a clean wire rack for drying.
- Set the icing: Allow the cookies to stand uncovered at room temperature until the royal icing is fully set and dry to the touch, at least 6 hours.
Notes
- Ensure the dough is thoroughly chilled before cutting to prevent spreading during baking.
- If icing thickens too much before decorating, add a teaspoon of water to loosen it gradually.
- Gel food colorings provide intense colors without altering the icing consistency.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container once icing is completely set to maintain freshness.
- If desired, spices can be adjusted to taste but are essential for the distinctive flavor of these cookies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: spiced cookies, royal icing cookies, holiday cookies, colorful cookies, orange zest cookies, festive cookie recipe
