Square Wreath Almond Sugar Cookies

Start with square almond sugar cookies and arrange assorted diamond-shaped cookies in a wreath. Top with green and red nonpareils and place a red candy in the center.

Square Wreath Cookies
Prep Time:
1 hrs
Chill Time:
2 hrs
Bake Time:
7 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs
Servings:
48
Yield:
48 to 60 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened

  • 1 ½ cup granulated sugar

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 eggs

  • ¼ cup milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

  • ½ cup ground blanched almonds

  • 3 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 egg whites

  • green colored sugar

  • green nonpareils

  • red nonpareils

  • 1 recipe Royal Icing

Royal Icing

  • 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (4-1/4 cups)

  • 3 tablespoon meringue powder

  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

  • ½ cup warm water

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, milk, vanilla, and almond extract until combined. Beat in ground almonds. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Set aside a portion of the dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll remaining dough to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Using a 3-inch square-shape cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

  3. Roll out reserved dough on a cookie sheet and brush with lightly beaten egg whites. Sprinkle different areas with green colored sugar, green nonpareils, and red nonpareils. Using a pizza cutter, cut dough into small diamond shapes; do not remove shapes.

  4. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Recut diamond shapes while still warm; cool on a wire rack.

  5. Outline and flood squares with glaze-consistency white Royal Icing. While icing is still wet, press a small red candy into center of each cookie. Arrange assorted diamonds around the center candy to create a wreath on each square.

Royal Icing

  1. In a large mixing bowl stir together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Add the water and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined; beat on high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until icing is very stiff. If not using right away, cover bowl with a damp paper towel and cover paper towel with plastic wrap; chill for up to 48 hours.

To Store:

Layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

**Tip:

Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized dried egg whites, sugar, and edible gums. Look for it in the baking aisle of your supermarket or at a specialty food store.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

178 Calories
8g Fat
25g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 48
Calories 178
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 99mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0.5mg 3%
Potassium 29mg 1%
Folate, total 16.6mcg
Vitamin B-12 0mcg
Vitamin B-6 0mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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