Cinco De Mayo Sombrero Cookies (Printable Version)
Colorful sugar cookies shaped like Mexican sombreros with vibrant frosting and candy decorations
# What You Need:
→ Cookie Dough
01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Decoration
08 - 2 cups confectioners' sugar
09 - 3–4 tablespoons milk
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - Assorted food coloring
12 - 24 gumdrops or similar round candies
13 - Assorted colorful sprinkles
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed. Set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture, mixing on low speed until a smooth, cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to ¼-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 24 large circles for the sombrero brims. Using a 1-inch round cutter, cut out 24 small circles for the crowns.
06 - Arrange both large and small cookie circles on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
07 - While the cookies cool, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. Divide the icing among separate bowls and tint each with your desired food coloring.
08 - Spread colored icing over each large cookie circle to form the brim. Place a small cookie upright in the center using icing as adhesive. Top each crown with a gumdrop, securing with additional icing.
09 - Pipe or spread icing along the edge of each brim and apply colorful sprinkles. Allow the assembled cookies to set at room temperature until the icing firms up before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These cookies turn a basic sugar cookie into a tiny edible centerpiece that makes everyone at the table grin before they even take a bite.
- The decorating part is wonderfully chaotic and forgiving, so kids and adults alike can join in without any pressure for perfection.
02 -
- If the dough feels sticky and stubborn when you try to roll it, wrap it in plastic and chill for twenty minutes before attempting again.
- Letting the cookies cool fully before frosting is non negotiable, because even slightly warm cookies will melt the icing into a puddle.
03 -
- Use a piping bag or even a zip top bag with the corner snipped off to control the icing flow and create neat decorative borders along the brims.
- For a chocolate variation, replace half a cup of flour with unsweetened cocoa powder in the dough for a richer, deeper flavored sombrero.