Description
Penguin Cookies are charming, soft, and chewy cookies featuring rich chocolate dough adorned with decadent homemade buttercream frosting. Perfect for festive occasions, these cookies are creatively decorated with sanding sugar, colorful candies, and sprinkles to resemble adorable penguins that delight both kids and adults.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature (170g)
- 1/2 cup or 4 oz. full fat cream cheese, room temperature (113g)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (300g)
- 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (8g)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (310g)
- 2/3 cup dark or black cocoa powder (65g)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch (8g)
- 1 tsp fine salt (6g)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (2g)
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (226g)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (12g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (454g or 1 lb. box)
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature (60g)
- 1/3 cup dark or black cocoa powder – to be added later (33g)
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream – to be added later (30g)
Decorations
- 1 cup coarse sanding sugar
- 48 orange sweetheart or conversation heart candies – cut in half
- Round, flat, black sprinkles (color white sprinkles black with an edible marker)
- Round, flat, pink sprinkles
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Large baking sheets/cookie trays
- 3 inch circle cookie cutter
- 2 large piping bags
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and full-fat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue to beat until well combined. Beat in the egg followed by the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, dark or black cocoa powder, cornstarch, fine salt, and baking powder. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a uniform dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm enough to roll out. This chilling step is crucial to prevent spreading during baking.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using a 3-inch circle cookie cutter, cut out rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 13 minutes until the edges are set but centers remain soft. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely on the trays.
- Prepare the Buttercream Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter until creamy. Add vanilla extract and fine salt. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat on low speed initially to avoid a sugar cloud, then increase speed until fluffy. Add the 1/4 cup heavy cream and beat until smooth. Divide the frosting into two portions; mix the 1/3 cup dark or black cocoa powder and 2 Tbsp heavy cream into one portion until fully incorporated to create chocolate buttercream.
- Assemble the Frosting and Decorations: Transfer the plain and chocolate buttercream into separate piping bags. Using the sanding sugar, sprinkle over the surface where desired on the cookies to mimic a snowy texture. Pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cookies to form the penguin’s body and features.
- Decorate the Penguins: Use the orange sweetheart or conversation heart candy halves to create the penguins’ beaks or feet. Apply the black sprinkles for eyes and other features, coloring white sprinkles black with an edible marker as needed. Use pink sprinkles for the cheeks or embellishments as preferred.
- Final Touches: Allow the decorated cookies to set at room temperature or refrigerate briefly to firm up the frosting before serving or packaging.
Notes
- These adorable penguin cookies bake up soft and chewy and are decorated with the most delicious homemade buttercream frosting.
- Ensure dough is well chilled for best textural results and easier handling.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and better consistency.
- Decorations can be customized with different candies or sprinkles as desired.
- These cookies make a charming holiday treat or themed party dessert.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 356 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 136 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 52 mg
