Sparkling Wine Bottle Cookies: A Fun and Festive Treat for New Year’s Eve

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups (310g) all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Royal Icing:

• 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted

• 3 tablespoons meringue powder

• 5-6 tablespoons water

• Gel food coloring (red, green, and pink)

• Edible glitter or gold dust

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough:

   1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

   2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).

   3. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract.

   4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

   5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

2. Shape the Cookies:

   1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

   2. Roll out the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface.

   3. Using a champagne bottle cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets.

3. Bake:

   1. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

   2. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Decorate:

   1. Prepare the royal icing by whisking powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth and glossy. Adjust the consistency as needed.

   2. Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint each bowl with gel food coloring (red, green, and pink).

   3. Pipe the outlines and flood the cookies with the desired colors. Let the base layer dry before adding details like labels or accents.

   4. Sprinkle edible glitter or dust on the cookies for a sparkling effect.