Make These Jack Skellington Nightmare Before Christmas Decorated Sugar Cookies

Instructions

1. Cream the butter and the sugar until smooth and not grainy to the touch in a mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs at one time, mix to incorporate.
3. Add the vanilla and mix well.
4. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
6. Continue mixing to make sure all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
7. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling wrap completely covering the entire dough ball.
8. Refrigerate the dough for about 6 hours or overnight. You want the dough to be firm.
9. Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and let it soften up a bit.
10. Dust your dough rolling space and rolling pin with flour.
11. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick.
12. Cut cookies out, using a round cookie cutter.

Baking the Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place the cookie cut out on the cookie sheet. Use a spatula if needed.
4. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes. Check to see if the cookie are thoroughly baked.
5. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and cool completely on a wire rack. (About 10 minutes)

Making the Icing

1. Combine all ingredients, except food coloring, in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes.
2. If icing is not stiff enough add 1/4 C powdered sugar.
3. Add several drops of black gel food coloring to the bowl of icing, mixing well.
4. Spoon the icing into a frosting bag with a #5 tip. Twist the open end of the bag to push the icing to the tip.

How to Ice Cookies

1. First step for each cookie is to outline them with icing. Allow this to set for a good 30 seconds or so.
2. Flood the cookies with icing, making sure that the surface is covered and fairly smooth.
3. Take your black icing, and place it in a pastry bag with a tip. Following the picture of the cookies, or a google image, decorate your white frosted cookies with Jack Skellington's features.
4. Let them set, and voila! You'll be the hit of the Halloween party or bake sale with these Nightmare before Christmas cookies.