Palm Tree Sugar Cookies

Since I had some dough left over from from the dinosaur fossil sugar cookies, and since my mom left a box of malted milk balls in my fridge (darn you mom!), these seemed like a good way to greet summer. 

Also, hanging out at the park in 50 degree weather.

Nothing says summer like wearing a hoodie.

 Palm Tree Sugar Cookies

 Sugar Cookie Recipe from Our Best Bites

Frosting Recipe from This Limerick Called Life

Palm Tree Cookies:

Follow this sugar cookie recipe to make cut-out cookies, using a palm tree cookie cutter.

Sugar Cookie Frosting:

-1/2 cup butter (I use salted)

-1 pound of powdered sugar (3 3/4 cup)

-dash salt

-1 tsp vanilla extract (lemon or almond are also good)

-3 Tbsp milk

-Gel food coloring (brown and green for these cookies)

Cream butter in mixing bowl.  Slowly add powdered sugar, alternating with vanilla and milk.  Add as much milk as necessary to get desired consistency.  I use 3 Tbsp.

Separate frosting into two bowls and tint one bowl green and the other brown with the food coloring.  (Americolor gel coloring deepens a LOT over time, so stop a little before you have reached your desired color if you aren't planning to serve these immediately.)

The frosting can then be wrapped and chilled until ready to use.  Be sure to knead it a few times before using so it will be easier to pipe.

Spoon frosting into two piping bags.  Use Wilton #45 or #47 tip pipe the tree trunk.  Just zigzag the frosting back and forth all the way down the trunk.

Use a leaf tip like Wilton #70 , to pipe the green palms.  Place tip  angled against the cookie and use a rolling motion to pipe each palm outward.  (So you are overlapping your frosting a bit to create texture.)

Add malted milk balls for coconuts while frosting is still wet.