Fusion Recipe: Sweet and Sour Glazed Christmas Cookies

 

Sweet and Sour Glazed Christmas Cookies

These Sweet and Sour Glazed Christmas Cookies ingeniously fuse the beloved American tradition of decorated holiday sugar cookies with the vibrant, tangy, and subtly sweet-and-sour profile often found in Chinese cuisine. Classic cut-out cookies are adorned with a unique royal icing that gets its distinctive flavour from a hint of preserved plum powder (suanmei) and a touch of rice vinegar, beautifully balanced with confectioners' sugar. The result is a surprisingly delightful cookie that offers a complex, intriguing taste experience—familiar yet exotic—making it a memorable treat for your festive celebrations.

Sweet and Sour Glazed Christmas Cookies



Ingredients

Category

Ingredient

Quantity

Notes

For the Sugar Cookies

Unsalted Butter (softened)

1 cup (226 g)



Granulated Sugar

1 cup (200 g)



Large Egg

1



Vanilla Extract

1 teaspoon



All-Purpose Flour

3 cups (360 g)

Plus extra for dusting


Baking Powder

1 teaspoon



Salt

1/2 teaspoon


For the Sweet & Sour Royal Icing

Confectioners' Sugar (sifted)

4 cups (480 g)



Meringue Powder

3 tablespoons

For stability


Warm Water

1/2 cup (120 ml)

Or as needed


White Rice Vinegar

1 teaspoon

For the "sour" tang


Preserved Plum Powder (Suanmei Fen)

1/2 teaspoon

Or to taste, available at Asian markets


Red Food Colouring (gel)

A few drops

Optional, for a festive hue

Optional Garnishes

Edible Gold Dust/Sprinkles

As needed

For decoration

Method & Instructions

Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough (Prepare ahead)

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined and a soft dough forms. Do not over-mix.
  5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days). This is crucial for easy rolling.


Step 2: Bake the Cookies

  1. Preheat your oven to 180 degreeC (350 degree F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
  3. Use Christmas-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheets.
  4. Bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on size and thickness, until the edges are lightly golden.
  5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.


Step 3: Make the Sweet & Sour Royal Icing

  1. In a large bowl, combine the sifted confectioners' sugar and meringue powder.
  2. Gradually add the warm water (1/4 cup at a time) and beat on low speed with an electric mixer until combined.
  3. Increase speed to high and beat for 5-7 minutes until the icing is thick, glossy, and holds stiff peaks.
  4. Stir in the white rice vinegar and preserved plum powder. Taste and adjust the amount of plum powder and vinegar to your preference for a balanced sweet and sour flavour.
  5. If desired, add a few drops of red gel food colouring for a festive look and mix until evenly coloured.
  6. If the icing is too thick for flooding, add water a teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.


Step 4: Decorate the Cookies

  1. Once the cookies are completely cool, transfer the royal icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips.
  2. Outline each cookie with a stiffer consistency icing, then flood the centre with a slightly thinner consistency icing (you may need to thin a portion of the icing with a few drops of water).
  3. Allow the icing to dry completely (this can take several hours or overnight).1

  4. Once dry, add any optional edible gold dust or sprinkles for extra sparkle.


Step 5: Serve

  1. Arrange the beautifully decorated Sweet and Sour Glazed Christmas Cookies on a festive platter.
  2. Serve as a unique and memorable holiday treat.


Tips for Success

  • Chilled Dough is Key: Don't skip refrigerating the dough; it prevents the cookies from spreading and helps them hold their shape.2
  • Plum Powder Source: Suanmei fen (preserved plum powder) can be found in most Asian grocery stores.3 It provides a unique salty, tangy, and subtly sweet flavour that is distinct from just vinegar.
  • Icing Consistency: For royal icing, consistency is everything! Thicker icing for outlining, thinner for flooding. Practice on parchment paper if you're new to it.
  • Patience for Drying: Allow ample time for the royal icing to dry completely to prevent smudging. This helps achieve a beautiful, hard, and shiny finish.

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