Cookie puzzles are a creative and delicious treat that combines the joy of baking with the fun of assembling a puzzle. To create your own cookie puzzle, follow this simple cookie puzzle recipe.
Follow these step-by-step recipe instructions to make jigsaw puzzles out of cookies! This sugar cookie puzzle recipe will delight young and old alike. The piece counts for these puzzle cookies are up to you. The decorations are also up to you, and the best part is that they are highly customizable. You can make 100 alike or 10 different puzzle cookies.
Cookie Puzzles Recipe | How to Make
Aren’t these adorable and innovative? Try this imaginative cookie puzzle recipe for a fun baking experience. Perfect for kids and adults, these tasty treats will surely bring everyone smiles!
These creative, break-apart cookies add a fun twist to your baking and are wonderful for the holiday cookie tray or as food gifts. While these are in a holiday cookie theme, there is nothing preventing you from making these sugar cookies that are puzzles for birthday parties, baby showers, or bridal showers. The cookie cutter will determine the theme. Cute cookies, scary cookies, holiday cookies, boy cookies, girl cookies – you are only limited by your imagination.
Tips and variations for making these sugar cookie puzzles:
● The size of the puzzle can depend entirely on the cookie cutters you decide to use. You want the main cookie cutter to have at least ½ inch of dough around it. If your cookie cutters are smaller, you can go a little smaller with your puzzle.
● If you are using large cookie cutters, you may have to go larger. This is just to maintain the strength of your cookie puzzle pieces
● Do not skip the chilling step. Freezing the dough helps in keeping the cookies from spreading. If the cookies spread, they will not fit together properly.
● If the cookies do spread too much, simply use the cookie cutters to recut the shape while the cookies are still warm. The cookies are soft enough to cut easily.
● Prep time will completely depend on how quickly you are at decorating cookies. This only took me 30 minutes to decorate, but if you are new to cookie decorating, this may take longer. The more you do it, the faster you get.
● Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. The frosting tends to harden over time and can get a little stale well before they go bad.
● I made my own royal icing for this project using this recipe: Royal Icing Recipe
● I used approximately 1½ cups of royal icing for these cookies.
● If you would like to make buttercream frosting and sanding sugar, try these recipes:
●
● How to make colored sugar – everything from pastel sugar to deep, bold sugar colors
● How to Color Buttercream Frosting
● How to make vanilla extract
● Elevate Your Baking Game: Learn the Magic of Sifting
● Butter in Baking: Essential Tips for Perfect Baked Goods
● Cake Troubleshooting 101: Navigating Baking Challenges with Ease
● You can give individual cookie puzzles in clear plastic cello bags. Tie them to a gift!
● Yes, you can freeze these cookies, with or without the frosting in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you are stacking the cookies, place some parchment paper between the layers to avoid the color s running into each other. Word of warning though: some sprinkles can bleed when exposed to a lot of moisture. If you are using sprinkles, they may not hold together when thawed. Thaw on the counter in a single layer when you are ready to serve.
More fun holiday cookie recipes:
● Easy Soft Gingerbread Cookies: Best Recipe
● How to Make Easy Almond Checkerboard Cookies Recipe
● Kris Kringle Cookie and Frosting Recipe
Cookie Puzzle Recipe Ingredient List:
● 1¼ Granulated White Sugar
● 1 cup Unsalted Butter, chilled
● 1 Large Egg
● 1½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
● 3 cups All-purpose Flour, plus an extra tablespoon for rolling.
● 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
● Royal Icing or store-bought cookie icing in a variety of colors
● Fun Holiday Sprinkles
Cookie Puzzle Recipe Mise en Place:
● cookie sheet
● Parchment Paper
● Measuring Cup
● Measuring Spoons
● Wire Baking Rack (Cooking Rack, Baking Rack, Wire Rack)
● Plastic Wrap
● Rolling Pin
● Cookie Cutters
● Sharp Knife
● Cutting Board
● Stand-up Mixer (paddle attachment, whisk attachment, large bowl, etc.) or Hand Mixer (electric mixer)
Cookie Puzzle Recipe Directions:
1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In the large bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed until smooth and a little grainy, approximately 2 minutes.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat on low speed until just combined about 1 minute.
4. Add the flour and baking powder and beat on low until the dough forms a ball in your mixer. This takes about 3-4 minutes.
5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes.
6. Once chilled, transfer the dough to a clean and lightly floured surface. Roll the dough to a ¼ – 1/3 inch thickness. Do not go any thinner, or the cookie will not be strong enough to play with. Cut rectangles into the dough approximately 3 inches wide and 4 inches tall.
7. Place the dough rectangles onto a cookie sheet. Use a cookie cutter to cut a shape in the middle of the rectangle. Use a sharp knife to randomly cut the outside pieces. Keep all the pieces together for now.
8. Place the cookie sheet with the cut puzzles into the freezer for 20 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer and pull apart the dough pieces to have at least an inch between each piece.
11. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-11 minutes. The pieces will only be slightly browned around the edges.
12. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to cool completely.
13. Fit together the puzzle pieces. If necessary, use your sharp knife to trim the edges so that the shapes fit together.
14. Now it is time for the fun part. Use your royal icing and sprinkles to decorate the tops of the cookies.
15. Let the cookies stand until the frosting hardens.
16. Enjoy immediately or package them up for fun gifts.
17. Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. The frosting tends to harden over time and can get a little stale well before they go bad.
Cookie Puzzles Recipe | How to Make
Cookie puzzles are a creative and delicious treat that combines the joy of baking with the fun of assembling a puzzle. To create your cookie puzzle, follow this simple cookie puzzle recipe.
Ingredients
- 1¼ Granulated White Sugar
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, chilled
- 1 Large Egg
- 1½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 3 cups All-purpose Flour, plus an extra tablespoon for rolling.
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- Royal Icing or store-bought cookie icing in a variety of colors
- Fun Holiday Sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In the large bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed until smooth and a little grainy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
- Add the flour and baking powder and beat on low until the dough forms a ball in your mixer. This takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes.
- Once the dough is chilled, transfer the dough to a clean and lightly floured surface. Roll the dough to ¼ - 1/3 inches thick. Do not go any thinner, or the cookie will not be strong enough to play with. Cut rectangles into the dough approximately 3 inches wide and 4 inches tall.
- Place the dough rectangles onto a cookie sheet. Use a cookie cutter to cut a shape in the middle of the rectangle. Use a sharp knife to randomly cut the outside pieces. Keep all the pieces together for now.
- Place the cookie sheet with the cut puzzles into the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer and pull apart the dough pieces to have at least an inch between each piece.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-11 minutes. The pieces will only be slightly browned around the edges.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to cool completely.
- Fit together the puzzle pieces. If necessary, use your sharp knife to trim the edges so that the shapes fit together.
- Now, it is time for the fun part. Use your royal icing and sprinkles to decorate the tops of the cookies.
- Let the cookies stand until the frosting hardens.
- Enjoy immediately, or package them up for fun gifts.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. The frosting tends to harden over time and can get a little stale well before they go bad.
Notes
This royal icing recipe was used to ice the cookies >>> https://www.annsentitledlife.com/recipes/royal-icing-recipe/
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
JOYIN 24 PCS Christmas Foil Treats Cookie Gift Box (8.75" x 5.75" x 2.75") Colorful Pattern with Window for Pastries, Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies, Donuts Gift-Giving
-
CHOUNYEE 24 PCs Gold Cookie Boxes with Window for Treat and Pastry, 9x6x3in White Bakery Boxes for Gift Giving,Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Dessert, Donut, Mini Cake Packaging Boxes
-
Christmas Cookie Boxes for Gift Giving - 12 Cookie Box Pack Kraft - Christmas Cookie Tins for Gift Giving, Christmas Treat Boxes, Holiday Cookie Boxes - Christmas Cookie Containers Tins With Lids
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 360Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 5g
Note: for exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information provided is simply a guideline.
● For more recipes on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.
● If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!
Leave a Reply