Magic Carpet Cookies
Take your taste buds on an enchanting journey with Magic Carpet Cookies, where warm spices and vibrant artistry come together to create a treat that’s both delicious and dazzling. These buttery cookies are infused with aromatic cinnamon and cardamom, offering a subtle, exotic flavor that perfectly complements their soft, crumbly texture. Decorated with colorful icing inspired by intricate rug patterns, these cookies are as visually stunning as they are tasty. Perfect for festive gatherings or an imaginative baking project, they’re easy to prepare and fun to customize with your favorite designs and hues. Ready in under an hour and ideal for sharing, Magic Carpet Cookies bring creativity and flavor to every bite—your kitchen will feel like a magical bazaar!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar (for icing)
- 2 tablespoons milk (for icing)
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)
- gel food coloring (assorted colors)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together using a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture and beat until well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together.
Roll the dough into 1.5-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten each ball with your palm to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies cool, prepare the icing by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. If the icing is too thick, add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
Divide the icing into small bowls and add a few drops of gel food coloring to each bowl to create your desired colors.
Using a small spoon or piping bag, decorate the cooled cookies with patterns, swirls, or abstract designs to mimic the look of a magical carpet. Let the icing set for 30 minutes before serving.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
169 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 6.3 g | 8% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.8 g | 19% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 24 mg | 8% | |
| Sodium | 48 mg | 2% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 26.3 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 16.3 g | ||
| Protein | 1.7 g | 3% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 8 mg | 1% | |
| Iron | 0.6 mg | 3% | |
| Potassium | 21 mg | 0% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
