Moravian Crisps with Royal Icing
Traditional thin and crispy spiced cookies decorated with royal icing. These delicate holiday treats feature a perfect blend of molasses, warming spices, and a sweet decorative icing.
Ingredients
- •¼ cup vegetable shortening (trans-fat-free)
- •⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- •½ cup unsulfured molasses (not blackstrap)
- •1½ cups all-purpose flour
- •1¼ teaspoons baking soda
- •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- •1 teaspoon ground ginger
- •¾ teaspoon ground cloves
- •¼ teaspoon salt
- •1 pound confectioners sugar
- •4 teaspoons powdered egg whites (not reconstituted) such as Just Whites
- •½ cup water
- •1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- •1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- •to taste Food coloring
- •Equipment
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Pulse shortening, brown sugar, and molasses in a food processor until smooth. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Add to processor and blend just until combined.
5 min
- 2.
Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead briefly, allowing dough to absorb a little more flour if sticky. Divide dough in half and form each half into a 3-inch square. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 day.
1440 min
- 3.
Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
10 min
- 4.
Roll out 1 piece of dough on a floured pastry cloth using floured sleeve-covered rolling pin until very thin (less than 1/16 inch thick), about a 15-inch square. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and, using offset spatula to transfer, arrange about 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets.
15 min
- 5.
Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, 10 minutes. Let stand 1 minute on sheet, then loosen with spatula and transfer on parchment to a rack to crisp, about 10 minutes. If first batch isn't crisp, bake 1 minute more (on baking sheet), then bake remaining batches 10 to 11 minutes. Cool cookies completely on rack.
21 min
- 6.
Repeat with remaining dough (cool baking sheets and line with fresh parchment). Reroll scraps once for extra cookies if desired.
30 min
- 7.
Beat together icing ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and beat until icing holds soft peaks, about 3 minutes more. If desired, divide icing and add food coloring.
4 min
- 8.
Fill pastry bags with icing and pipe decoratively on cookies, then let set, about 1 hour.
60 min