How to make Pixel Cookies!

Step 1: Make the dough!

For the cookies, I use the butter cookie dough recipe from Cooks Illustrated. I chose it because it's designed to be a very durable dough that still results in tender cookies. Also, it doesn't have baking soda or powder, so the cookies don't puff much during baking. You might even be able to use store bought dough if you wanted.
I don't have many detailed pictures for mixing up the dough, since it's fairly straight forward. Here's the recipe.


2.5 cups flour,
3/4 cups sugar, blitzed in a food processor until fine
1/4 tsp salt
two sticks of butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, at room temperature
2tsp vanilla extract
2tbs cream cheese, softened

Using a stand mixer, mix the dry ingredients, then add the butter piece by piece, and process until the dough looks wet and crumbly looking.
Toss in the cream cheese and vanilla, and keep going until it starts to form large clumps (30sec).

Comments

[limpport]

This dough has no binder!!!! It stayed crumbly for me, even after the vanilla and cream cheese. I used one egg as a binder for the dough, and it came out PERFECT!!!

[Nashella]

Hi, this Instructable is just awesome! I love everything which puts together food and geek things! but I'm French and i'm not sure how much is a "stick of butter" ? In France sticks of butter are 250g (0.551 lb) weight.

[Eva Funderburgh]

The ones I've been using are 8 tablespoons / 1/2 cup / 1/4 pound / 113 grams. have fun!