'Ach Tannebaum' Iced Sugar Cookies #ChristmasCookies #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Adams Extract and Spice, 
YumGoggle, and Silpat, sponsors of #ChristmasCookiesWeek.
I received complimentary product for the purpose of review and recipe development,

but all opinions are honest and they are my own. This page may contain affiliate links.

Ach Tannebaum, ach Tannebaum, du bist ein edler Zweig! 

Du grünest uns den Winter, die lieben Sommerzeit.

Roughly translated, the lyrics are, "Oh, pine tree, oh, pine tree, you're a noble twig! You greet us in the winter, the dear summer time." That's always been one of my favorite Christmas carols. So, when Yum Goggle decided to sponsor the event and send us cookie cutters of our choosing, I picked a large tree and am kicking off the #ChristmasCookies week with these 'Ach Tannebaum' Iced Sugar Cookies.

Thanks, Prizes, and a Giveaway
But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Today kicks off a fantastic event helmed by Ellen of Family Around the Table with help from Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures. These talented ladies are tireless and inspiring. They not only wrangled all of us foodie bloggers, but they lined up some amazing event sponsors who donated to us for recipe creation and also for prizes.

Go to my kick-off post to read about the prize packages and to enter the giveaway. Or enter at the bottom of this post. You won't want to miss out. Seriously. Your holiday baking will be kicked up more than a few notches.


Today's #ChristmasCookies Tray

• 'Ach Tannebaum' Iced Sugar Cookies by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Brown Sugar Ornament Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Butter Pecan Nuggets by Grumpy's Honeybunch
• Chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies by Soulfully Made
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies by Everyday Eileen
• Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Cookies by Tip Garden
• Chocolate Espresso Brown Sugar Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Chocolate Snowball Cookies by Hardly A Goddess
• Chocolate-Cherry Snowballs by Red Cottage Chronicles
• Christmas Macarons by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Christmas Rosette Sugar Cookies by Love and Confections
• Christmas Sprinkle Pudding Cookies by Jonesin’ For Taste
• Classic Spritz by Books n' Cooks
• Dark Chocolate Coffee Crinkle Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
• Frostbite Cookies by Cooking With Carlee
• Gingerbread Macaron by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Hot Chocolate Cookies by Family Around The Table
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie by Caroline's Cooking
• Oatmeal Rolled Sugar Cookies by House of Nash Eats
• Peanut Butter Cutout Cookies by Bear & Bug Eats
• Peppermint Cookie Dough Truffles by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Peppermint Meltaways by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Peppermint Pizzelles by Girl Abroad
• Peppermint Thins by Palatable Pastime
• Pistachio Cranberry Macaron by Yumgoggle
• Sour Cream Decorated Cookies by The Freshman Cook
• Spiced Chocolate Molasses Cookies by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Vegan Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars by The Baking Fairy
• Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Shortbread by Kate's Recipe Box
• White Chocolate Gingerbread Blondies by The Redhead Baker
• Whoville Cookies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Fun, Natural Colors

Adams Extract & Spice is also one of the event sponsors and I was really tickled to get a set of natural food dyes. I love that the green and blue were made with spirulina extract and the yellow made with turmeric. That's definitely my kinda dye. But, as with everything you are using for the first time, there was a learning curve. For instance, the red is a beautiful carmine hue...until you heat it...because it's made with beets. I tested it and it went from red to purple, which was not what I had in mind. Whoops. And everyone commented that the colors fade in the sunlight. So, these aren't as vibrant as colors made with Red No. 40 or Blue No. 1, but I love that they are naturally derived!

Ingredients

Sugar Cookies

• 2-3/4 C flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 t salt
• 3/4 C butter, softened
• 1 C granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• zest from 1 organic lemon

Royal Icing

• 3 egg whites, or more to thin icing
• 6 C organic powdered sugar, or more to thicken icing
• juice from 1 to 2 organic lemons (I used a Meyer lemon)
• food coloring, optional

Procedure

Sugar Cookies
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, set aside in a bowl.

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and zest. Mix. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing completely.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill dough for at least 2 hours. Roll out between two pieces of parchment paper.

Shape them with your cutters, using flour to keep them from sticking. Place on a silicone mat-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 9-11 minutes, depending on size of cookies. Cool completely on wire racks. Make the royal icing while the cookies cool.

Royal Icing

Beat the whites until stiff but not dry. Add sugar and lemon juice. Beat for another minute. If the icing is too thick, add more egg whites; if it's too thin, add more sugar. Add food coloring if you desire. This icing may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To Finish

Spread the royal icing over cooled cookies. I decorated some with extra drops of dye and swirled them with a toothpick and I also drizzled the royal icing across the cookies in a more abstract way. Let icing set before storing or serving.

Find Adams Extract and Spice

on the web, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram

Find YumGoggle

on the web, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram

Find Silpat

on the web, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram

*Disclosure: I received product for free from the sponsor for recipe development, however, 

I have received no additional compensation for my post. My opinion is 100% my own and 100% accurate.

Enter the Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thank you #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsors: Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoggle and Silpat for providing the prizes free of charge. The #ChristmasCookiesWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Four (4) winners will be selected at random from entries recevied. The prize packages will be fulfilled by and sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. #ChristmasCookiesWeek bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household are not eligible enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookiesWeek posts or entry.