mardi gras masquerade sugar cookies

Celebrate Carnival with Mardi Gras Masquerade Sugar Cookies

Bright sanding sugars, gold pearls, and a killer sugar cookie recipe create a festive Mardi Gras Masquerade Sugar Cookie perfect for celebrating Carnival.

The 2015 Carnival season comes to a close next week as Fat Tuesday sends Mardi Gras out with a bang. If you haven’t had a chance to celebrate this year, these Mardi Gras Masquerade Sugar Cookies are a festive recipe that can be thrown together in no time. We love the look of super bright sanding sugars as well as the sweet crunch they give these sugar cookies. A few edible gold sugar pearls add the touch of bling that Mardi Gras is known for.

Celebrate Carnival with Mardi Gras Masquerade Sugar Cookies

I had a stash of fun wooden party picks that I baked underneath a handful of cookies for added flair. The cookies do not cook for very long so the pick did not burn, but make sure to keep a close eye on your cookies during baking and use a food-safe product. I simply adore how the masks turned out! They would be gorgeous dropped in a cellophane treat sack and tied with metallic ribbon – just perfect for spreading Carnival cheer or as party favors for your next Mardi Gras themed bash.

Celebrate Carnival with Mardi Gras Masquerade Sugar Cookies

MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE SUGAR COOKIES
 
Yields: approximately 36 cookies
INGREDIENTS
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups flour
  • colored sanding sugar and metallic sugar pearls to decorate
PREPARATION
  1. Line baking sheets with either parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together baking powder, salt, and flour. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
  4. Gradually mix in dry mixture until dough forms. Form dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap for at least an hour before rolling.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  6. Roll dough on lightly floured surface or between two sheets of freezer paper to ¼ inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and transfer to prepared baking sheets.
  7. Sprinkle with colored sanding sugars and adorn with sugar pearls if desired. Bake 5-8 minutes until lightly golden on edges.
  8. Transfer to wire rack and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

RESOURCES
Mask Cookie Cutter – 3″ with Cutouts
Gold Sugar Pearls
Wood Ball End Rock Candy Sticks

Celebrate Carnival with Mardi Gras Masquerade Sugar Cookies