Looking for a fun baking activity to do with the kids? These superhero cookies are a brilliant way to spend a rainy afternoon or a lazy weekend together. They’re made from a soft, buttery sugar cookie base that holds its shape beautifully when cut and iced — perfect for superhero shapes, but just as good for stars, hearts or whatever cutters you have in the drawer.
This basic sugar cookie recipe is light, buttery and makes a great base for icing. It’s simple enough for kids to help with the mixing and cutting, and satisfying enough that everyone will want seconds.
Ingredients
- 3 cups (390 grams) plain flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Method
1) In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and bicarbonate of soda. Set aside.
2) Using an electric mixer (a wooden spoon works too), beat together the butter and sugar until well incorporated and fluffy.
3) Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Put the dough into a bowl, cover with cling film and place in the fridge for at least one hour.
4) Preheat the oven to 170°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. In small batches, roll the dough onto a floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Cut out shapes and place on the baking paper about 1 inch apart.
5) Here’s the secret to cut-out cookies that keep their shape: pop the baking tray with the cookies back into the fridge for about 10 minutes before baking. Bake for 8–10 minutes until the edges just begin to brown, but the cookies are still soft. Cool completely before icing.
Now it’s time to ice!
Ingredients for Icing
- 1 cup (125 grams) icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Food colouring
- Piping bag with a small tip
Method for Icing
1) Mix all the ingredients together. You’ll want a consistency that holds its shape when piped onto the cookies.
2) Using a toothpick, lightly etch the design onto the cookie. Pipe the outline of the shapes in your chosen colours and let dry.
3) Add a tiny bit more water to the icing and pipe inside the shapes. The icing should spread and fill the design. Let it dry completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge.
4) Pour a nice, cool glass of milk and enjoy with the cookies!
What’s your favourite recipe to make with the kids? Tell us in the comments below.
More baking fun
If your kids enjoyed getting stuck into these superhero cookies, they’ll love trying out other simple bakes together — from decorated biscuits for birthdays to easy traybakes for lazy weekends. Browse our family food section for more kid-friendly recipes worth keeping on hand.
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