Wii - Super Mario Shortbread Cookies

This is a hit with the kids.  I baked a regular shortbread cookies and created stencils with Mario game characters. To make it more colorful the dough was devided into three pieces and two of them got few drops of colored food gel. I used blue and red colors, but after baking, the cookies came out orange and green : ) Go and figure that one out ; )

Shortbreads:

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon (2 grams) salt

1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar

1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanila extract

 Icing

1 cup of icing sugar

1 spoon of cocoa powder

3 spoons of warm water

Shortbreads: In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt. Set aside.

In the bowl beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least an hour or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C)

On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough into a 1/4 inch (.6 cm) thick circle. Cut into rounds or other shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter. Place on the prepared baking sheets and place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. (This will firm up the dough so the cookies will maintain their shape when baked.) Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until cookies are very lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack 

Icing: Mix all ingredients together. Spread on a cookie using stencils.  Icing dries up in few minutes.

Banana Split Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cups of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 4 medium mashed bananas-about 11/2 to 2 cuos
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Baking Instructions

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees
2. Fill 12 cupcake tins with paper or foil liners
3. In large mixing bowl combine flour,sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add in the butter, bananas, eggs, and vanilla and mix well with mixer at medium speed, for approximately 2 minutes
5. Fill cupcake tins
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Tiyr banana cupcakes will be done when a toothpick comes out clean.

Top the cupcakes with vanila icing or whipped cream and chocolate.  You may put a cherry or a strawberry at the top and/or sprinkle with nuts.