Art Palette Cookies - Susan S.

Method

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 160°C or 140°C for a fan forced oven. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

2. Step 2

   Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until combined (do not overbeat) using an electric mixer.

3. Step 3

   Sift together flours into a bowl. Add half sifted flour to butter mixture and using a spoon mix until combined. Add milk and mix and combine then add remaining flour. Use hands to mix if dough becomes difficult to mix with spoon. Mix until a soft dough that comes away from sides of bowl is achieved and isn’t too sticky. If too dry, add an extra tspn of milk.

4. Step 4

   Roll dough flat, approx. 1cm thick. Use circular shape cutter approx. 6-7cm diameter to cut circles into dough. Use a small knife to cut a notch into circle to create a kidney shaped palette. Use fingers to mould into a smoother edge if required.

5. Step 5

   Carefully cut a small hole just above the notch. Use excess dough to make paint brushes. Roll between fingers to get a long piece of dough approx. 4cm long.

6. Step 6

   Use a small knife to imprint brush bristles at one end. Place palettes and brushes onto tray. Chill in fridge for approximately 15 minutes.

7. Step 7

   Remove from fridge and bake for 4-5 minutes for brushes and approx. 10 minutes for palettes. Be careful not to overcook and burn but for darker brushes, allow to cook a little longer than 4-5 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

8. Step 8

   Prepare icing while biscuits cool. Combine icing sugar and 1 tsp water. Icing should be soft but not too runny. Separate icing into small bowls and add a few drops of colour to each bowl. Keep one bowl of white icing. Attach brush to palette with a sml amount of white icing. Use a butter knife to carefully apply to palette and brush.

9. Step 9

   Use Queen Black Food colour to brush the tip of the biscuit, then finish with small dollops of each colour icing colour to create the paint palette.