Simple Cutout Sugar Cookies: Ghosts and Pumpkin Pi

Fall is in full swing and (it's hard to believe) even Halloween is just around the corner.  I'm starting to get in the spirit by getting out the Halloween decorations and making yummy treats!  Cutout sugar cookies are some of favorite to make in the holiday season because they are so versatile.  Rolling out the dough can be tricky if the dough is not right, so this has been my favorite go-to recipe for cutout sugar cookies.   As for the icing, the usual ingredients are confectioners' sugar, food coloring and water.  I found a recipe for the icing which hardens nicely and contains vanilla extra and light corn syrup (gives it an extra sheen). Here are my ghosts and pumpkin 'pi'!  and yes, that is a mouse :)

Ingredients:

For the cookies:
- 6 tbsp of soft unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips (optional)

For the icing:
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- food coloring

Recipe:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In one bowl, mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla.  In a second bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix gently.  You can add more flour if the dough seems too sticky, but be careful to not add too much. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let rest for one hour.

2) Sprinkle flour on a clean surface.  With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4-inch.  If the dough is sticking to the rolling pin, sprinkle more flour on the dough.

2) With your favorite cookie cutters, cut out the cookies and place on a baking sheet.

3) The recipe says bake the cookies for 8-12 mins.  My cookies were definitely done at 9 mins.   Let the cookies cool completely before adding the icing.  

4) To prepare the icing mix the sugar, corn syrup, food coloring and vanilla.  If the icing still seems thick, add 1-2 drops of water a time.

5) Decorate your cookies!  My ghosts were made with plain white icing, mini chocolate chips for the eyes and a regular sized chocolate chip for the mouth.  The pumpkins begin with orange icing and are finished with a bit of pipe work.