Until there's a cure...

I am a Zeta Tau Alpha, and our philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness. I loved working at race for the cure, baking for Think Pink games, and buying the cute pink ribbon products, but I never really had a personal experience with breast cancer.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks before Thanksgiving. It was awful news to hear, but she was lucky that she found it early. She had radiation for 3 weeks leading up to my wedding, and began chemotherapy right after Christmas. She has been so amazing through it all! She has her last chemo treatment on Thursday, and asked me to make some pink ribbon cookies for her to bring to the center because there are often baked goods there for the patients. I was more than happy to because I love baking, but because I’m so proud of my mom! I found the ribbon cookie cutters here, http://www.thecookiecuttershop.com/cancercookiecutters.shtml and used them for many events in college. They can be used for any ribbon though!

This recipe is a traditional rolled sugar cookie recipe I found online, and added a bit to from learning a few secrets and tips. Using powdered sugar to roll and dust tastes so much better than using flour. These cookies are sweet, buttery, and delicious. The dough also holds up well in the freezer.

Pink Ribbon Sugar Cookies
(updated 12/2012)

1 1/2 cups butter

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 tbsp. lemon zest

5 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Powdered sugar, for rolling

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cream butter and sugars in a mixer for 5 minutes. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly. Add in vanilla, almond, and lemon zest. Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt a little at a time. Do not over mix, this process should take about one minute.

Chill dough for up to a week in the fridge, or roll out and cut right away.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake cookies for 7-8 minutes.

Wait until cookies are cooled before icing.

For the outer icing:

1 stick of butter, softened

¼ cup Crisco

6 cups powdered sugar

Water or Milk to reach desired consistency

Food coloring

For the inner icing:

4 cups powdered sugar

¼ - ½ cup skim milk

Food coloring

This is a large recipe, and it will make 80 ribbons