How to Make Picture Perfect Sand Dollar Sugar Cookies

Making Sand Dollar Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies decorated to look like sand dollars make for a fun and beachy treat! With just a simple sand dollar shaped cookie cutter, some royal icing, and a bit of creativity, you can easily make these cool cookies at home.

Gather Your Supplies

To make sand dollar sugar cookies, you will need:

• Sugar cookie dough (either homemade or store-bought)
• Sand dollar shaped cookie cutter
• Flour for dusting
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Royal icing (white, blue, yellow)
• Small paintbrushes
• Toothpicks for texturing

Prepare the Dough

If using store-bought dough, simply let it come to room temperature before rolling it out. If making homemade dough, mix together the dry ingredients first - flour, baking powder, salt. Then add the wet ingredients - butter, sugar, egg, vanilla. Mix until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

Cut Out the Sand Dollar Shapes

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line some baking sheets with parchment paper.

Lightly flour a work surface and rolling pin. Roll out the dough until 1⁄4 inch thick. Dip the sand dollar cookie cutter in flour and cut out shapes from the dough, spacing them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Reroll the scraps to cut more cookies.

Bake the cookies 8-10 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet before decorating.

Make the Royal Icing

Royal icing is made by beating together egg whites, powdered sugar, and a bit of lemon juice or cream of tartar. Beat on high speed for 5-7 minutes until the icing forms stiff peaks. Separate into bowls and dye with gel food colors as desired.

Decorate the Sand Dollars

Use a small paintbrush to paint a "base coat" of white icing onto each cooled cookie. Let set for 5-10 minutes until icing hardens.

Next, paint on details like waves, starfish, seashells using the colored icing. Let set between applications. Blue and yellow work nicely for water color accents.

Drag a toothpick through the wet icing to create a rough, sandy texture. Allow the cookies to dry completely on a wire rack.

Sand Dollar Cookie Ideas

Get creative with decorating your sand dollar cookies! Here are some fun ideas:

• Paint waves crashing over the sand dollar
• Add starfish or seashells
• Write messages like "Beach Bum"
• Draw fish or sea turtles swimming
• Add sand texturing with a toothpick
• Pipe borders along the edges
• Roll the edges in colored sugar or sprinkles
• Use luster or pearl dust for shine

Gifting Sand Dollar Cookies

These beach-themed cookies make great gifts for:

• Beach house warming parties
• Beach vacations & cruises
• Pool parties
• Graduations
• Summer birthdays
• Teachers before summer break

Package the cookies in cellophane bags tied with ribbon or raffia for a lovely presentation. Add a tag with a cute saying like "Have a sand-tastic day!".

Tips for Making Sand Dollar Cookies

Follow these tips for best results when making decorated sand dollar sugar cookies:

• Chill cookie dough thoroughly before rolling for easier cutting and less spreading during baking.
• Use parchment paper on the baking sheets for easy removal.
• Let baked cookies cool completely before decorating or the icing will slide off.
• Use gel food colors to tint royal icing - they provide vibrant colors without thinning the icing.
• Apply icing in layers, letting it dry between applications for best results.
• Keep icing bowls covered with damp paper towels when not in use to prevent drying out.
• Store the decorated cookies between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at room temperature.

Fun Ways to Use Sand Dollar Cookie Cutters

A sand dollar cookie cutter isn't just for sugar cookies! Here are some other fun ideas for using this beachy shape:

Sand Dollar Shortbread

Cut out buttery shortbread dough with a sand dollar cutter. Poke holes to mimic a real sand dollar's porous texture. Sprinkle with coarse sugar before baking.

Sand Dollar Pound Cake

Bake a vanilla or lemon pound cake in a loaf pan. Let cool completely, then slice and cut out sand dollar shapes from the cake using the cookie cutter.

Sand Dollar Ice Cream Sandwiches

Make ice cream sandwiches by scooping ice cream onto the flat side of a baked sand dollar cookie. Top with another cookie to make a sandwich.

Sand Dollar Pie Crust

Reroll pie dough scraps and cut out sand dollars with the cookie cutter. Arrange on top of a baked pie for a beachy decoration.

Sand Dollar Tea Cookies

Cut out sliced almonds or coconut with the sand dollar cutter to top tea cookies before baking. Or decorate iced tea cookies with sand dollar shapes.

Sand Dollar Palmiers

Spread sugar cookie dough into a rectangle. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll up the dough from the short sides so it resembles a sand dollar. Slice into cookies.

Sand Dollar S'mores

Cut sand dollar shapes out of graham crackers. Assemble s'mores using the sand dollar graham cracker, chocolate, and toasted marshmallow.

Make Memorable Sand Dollar Cookies

With a simple sand dollar shaped cookie cutter, it's easy to make beautiful decorated sugar cookies perfect for beach and ocean themes. Get creative with royal icing designs, gift them in beach-y packaging, or use the shape for other baked goods beyond sugar cookies. No matter how you use it, this special cookie cutter will make memories with each batch of sand dollar treats you bake.

FAQs

What is the best cookie dough to use?

We recommend using a simple sugar cookie dough, either homemade or store-bought. The cookies should hold their shape well without spreading too much.

How do I make a sandy texture?

After icing the cookies, take a toothpick and gently drag it through the icing to create a rough, sandy look. Let the icing dry completely before handling.

What is the best way to decorate sand dollars?

Use royal icing and gel food colors to paint designs like waves, starfish, seashells, etc. Build up the designs with multiple layers of icing, letting each dry before adding more.

How long do decorated cookies last?

If stored at room temperature in an airtight container between sheets of wax paper or parchment, the decorated sand dollar cookies will last 1-2 weeks.

Can I make sand dollars without a special cutter?

While a sand dollar cutter gives the cookies an authentic shape, you can also use a round or oval cutter and shape the details with royal icing.