Football Decorated Sugar Cookies (Are you ready for some football???)

     Are you ready for some football?  I can't wait for Sunday's big game.  It's the Pittsburgh Steelers vrs. the Baltimore Ravens.  This is a HUGE game in our house because my husband has lived in Maryland almost all of his life and I was born and raised in Pittsburgh.  Plus, the beginning of football season is always so much fun. 

    When I found out this was one of the first games I began searching for a flavorful sugar cookie to decorate. Most sugar cookies I’ve made in the past hold their shape well and take icing well, but aren’t very tasty. I think I’ve found a good tasting sugar in this recipe. These cookies bake up firm so that they also hold icing well, but they have a sweet buttery taste as well.

       I made the cookies in the shape of footballs but you can make them whatever shape you want. Of course I decorated mine for the Steelers, but the football shaped cookies can be decorated with any team color. I also used a chocolate frosting because my team’s colors are black and gold, but a white frosting can be used as well.
The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies (adapted from Allrecipes )

½ c. butter, softened
2 T. sour cream
2 T. applesauce
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 t. baking powder
2 ¾ c. flour
1 t. salt
1. In a large bowl mix the butter, sour cream, applesauce, and sugar. Slowly beat in eggs and vanilla until everything is well mixed.

2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Pour into the butter mixture and mix well.

3. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to ¼” or ½” thickness. Cut into shapes and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until slight brown shows at the edge of the cookies.

5. Cool and decorate.
Hershey’s "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting

To decorate:

1. Spread footballs with chocolate icing.

2. In a small baggie, heat up yellow (or desired color) chocolate melts 30 seconds at a time or until they are totally melted. Seal bag, snip off the tip, and pipe laces, words, etc. onto footballs.

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Sweets for a Saturday, Party Mindie Style

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