Introduction: Sugar Cookie Paint
This is a great, hopefully more controlled alternative to frosting cookies for the holidays. It's fast, easy, and cheap to make lots!
Step 1:
For the paint you'll need:
1 egg white, room temperature
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 c. powdered sugar
different colors of food dye
new, clean paint brushes (plastic bristles!)
And, while you don't "need" the paint palette - it is fun to have
For the sugar cookies, I just used a basic rolled sugar cookie recipe:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Cream together butter and sugar - Beat in eggs and vanilla.
Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. **Cool completely before painting!! **
Step 2:
Beat the egg white and Cream of Tartar together, until stiff peaks form. Don't over beat, or it may "beak" - leaving a watery mess at the bottom of your bowl.
Gently mix in the powdered sugar.
Now's the time to add any clear extracts if you want a bit of extra flavor. 1/4 - 1/2 tsp is plenty
Step 3:
Separate the mixture into smaller bowls, and add a few drops of food dye to each.
Step 4:
Paint!
Step 5:
When you're done with your cookies, let them dry for a few minutes. The "paint" will harden, and you can stack them if needed.

Participated in the
Halloween Food Contest
12 Comments
4 years ago on Step 5
Cool, I never thought to use brushes for frosting, I will be trying this asap!
7 years ago on Introduction
Re: the salmonella issue. Can I use powdered egg white? Would that be safer?
8 years ago
Why do you need use plastic bristled brushes? I have new regular brushes I use for baking
Reply 8 years ago
You can use regular brushes - plastic ones are just easier to clean and less likely to leave bristles in the paint.
8 years ago
That looks so cool
9 years ago on Introduction
Nice! I like the bright colors.
How long does it take to dry enough?
9 years ago on Introduction
Nice work!
9 years ago
Can't you get salmonella positioning from raw eggs?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
It's not extremely likely (I think the the numbers I've seen are something like 1 in 20,000) - and typically, salmonella is found in the yolk of the egg. But, if you're worried about it, you can always make a cooked meringue (slowly heat the egg whites in a double boiler, until they reach 160°F - then add the Cream of Tartar and beat)
There's more about it here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/503889-is-meringue-safe-to-eat/
=)
9 years ago
nice
9 years ago on Introduction
Fantastic idea and I also really like the palette :).
9 years ago on Introduction
Oh I can see huge possibilities for edible paint for food decorating! I'm so glad you shared. Voted for you, good luck!