Paint Brush Cookies (Approx 5 Dozen)

As long as I can remember, my family has had the tradition of making these cookies. They are kind of like sugar cookies, but are more interactive as you have to roll out the dough, use a variety of cookie cutters, and paint whatever accents you want using egg yolk paint.

I usually get my dad to assist with painting and getting the cookies off the cookie sheet but he has been a little cranky lately. Needless to say, because of my lack of expertise on moving the cookies from the cookie sheet to the wire cooling rack, I have a few headless snowmen.

1+1/2 cups of sifted confectionery sugar
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 egg (large)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2+1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1. Mix confectionery sugar, butter, egg, vanilla and almond extract. Then stir in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar (about 1/2 cup at a time). Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

2. Heat oven to 375º. Divide dough into halves. Roll each half 3/16 of an inch on lightly floured rolling sheet/board. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.

3. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet (maybe spray some PAM/vegetable/canola oil). Prepare Egg Yolk Paint and paint designs on cookies with small paintbrushes.

EGG YOLK PAINT:

Mix 1 egg yolk (exclude the egg white) and 1/4 teaspoon of water. Divide mixture among 3-4 small custard cups. Tint each cup with different amounts of food coloring. (Red, Yellow, and Green only needed about 2 drops, blue definitely needed 3-4). If paint thickens while standing, stir in a few drops of water.

It is crucially important to match the paint brush's handle color to that of the egg yolk paint. Otherwise, if you work with others or are just very tired, you will mess them up very quickly and end up with some muddy paint colors.

4. Bake until edges are light brown, about 6-7 minutes. I still use the double rack oven, I just alternate between timing it for 3 minutes, then 4 minutes).