Margarita Sugar Cookies
This week is ¡Margarita Week! in the blogging world. I love participating, but this year I have decided to contribute a margarita sugar cookie recipe. These cookies are the perfect blend of lemon and lime with a hint of salt and the tequila adds a smooth finish. (I recommend Don Julio Añejo, but any tequila will do.) Enjoy!
Margarita Cookies
Yields 2 dozen
Ingredients:
2 cups + 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 ½ sticks of unsalted butter
½ cup + 2 tbsp sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp tequila
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp lime zest
Royal Icing (Optional for ages 21 and over):
1 lb powder sugar
3 tbsp meringue powder
1/3 cup water
2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
3 tbsp tequila
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp lime zest
Sanding Sugar
Food Color
Directions:
For cookies - In a small bowl, Wisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add in egg yolk, vanilla, tequila, lemon and lime zest and beat until it all comes together, about 1 minute. Slowly add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
Divide dough in two sections and form into round disks. Wrap both disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Stamp out shapes using any 2-3 inch cookie cutter of your choice. Reroll scraps and repeat with remaining disk. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat.
Bake cookies 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are golden. Let cool on wire rack completely prior to frosting them.
For icing – In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together sugar and meringue powder until combined. Slowly add in water, vanilla, tequila, lemon and lime zest, mix until thick, but a little runny. Frost cookies, and dust with sugar.
Notes:
The tequila in the cookies will bake off in oven, but the tequila in the icing will not. Please keep this in mind before serving to anyone under the age of 21.
