Coconut Easter Cookes {recipes}

Strangely enough, these look so much better in the photo than in real life.

 I have been so inspired by Sugar Belle's beautifully decorated cookies that I thought I'd give it a try. *Cue canned laughter* Decorating cookies is a new skill-set for me...and I need more practice. Here's a hint: When the professional says to use a decorating bottle for each color, do it.

Zara got in on the decorating action.

"Look, Mommy, I made a hole!" said Zara.

Combination of colored sugars, bunny sprinkles, and food markers.

A sweet little heart.

Coconut Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2  cups brown flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons coconut flavoring
• 1 cup coconut flakes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. 
3. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar with a mixer set on low until it's blended and then turn the mixer up to medium. Beat the mix for about 5 minutes. The mixture should be fluffy.
4. Turn the mixer back down to low and add in the eggs, flavorings, and coconut flakes.
5. Add in the flour mixture until it's blended. Don't over-do it.
6. Use a tablespoon to place the dough onto ungreased cookie sheets about one inch apart. If you want to use a cookie cutter, spread the dough out into a bigger, flatter area, using more dough. Cut the shapes after baking while they're still warm.
7. Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.
8. Decorate (Or not. Your choice.)
9. Nom. Nom. Nom.

Coconut Royal Icing

Ingredients

• 16 oz. confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons meringue powder
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons coconut flavoring
• Food coloring

Directions
Mix all ingredients, except the food coloring, together in a bowl and then beat with a mixer set at medium for about 5 minutes. The mixture should be very stiff. Mix in food coloring. Keep the icing covered to keep it from drying out.

I used two different flours because, well, I ran out of all-purpose flour and had to make do. The icing recipe is a basic royal icing recipe, but I like adding flavor whenever I can. It just makes the cookies extra yummy.

Finished cookies. Yum!

For instructions on how to decorate cookies, check out Sugar Belle's website. She has some great tutorials (they're listed on the right on her site, just scroll down a bit) and makes the prettiest cookies I believe I've ever seen. Ever. Her post Twenty Second Rule has videos that show you exactly what you're supposed to be doing. Pay attention. The lady knows what she's talking about.





'Kay, I'm done raving now. Promise.