A Homemade Life: Jimmy's Pink Cookies

I've been lucky in that I get to spend a ton of time with my friends this summer.  Because of summer birthdays, and holidays, I feel like I see someone every week.  And since M is a stay at home mom, Mrs. Pirate and L&O are off for the summer, and HorseWhisper had some time between graduation and starting work, we've been commiserating about being home with the kids and keeping them entertained.

So we've been trying to meet up to let the kids burn off their energies together.  Mrs.Pirate and I took the boys strawberry picking.  In reality, this was more an excursion for me than Thatkid, who is a little meh about strawberries.  They are his least favorite of the berries, falling behind blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.  But I love fruit picking, I love strawberries, and Carlsbad has some of the best.  Besides, getting him outside is a must for days when we're home.  He cannot be kept cooped up inside all day.

We got a bucket for each boy, told them what to look for in terms of strawberries (red, not mushy) and turned them loose in the fields.

Little Pirate loves strawberries.  He's a strawberry fiend.  And it didn't take too long before Monkey See wanted to be Monkey Do.

The two of them stopped picking and just ate.  Mrs. Pirate and I took up the picking, and the boys were eating them almost as fast as we could get them in the bucket.  Nevertheless, we managed to walk away with a respectable haul.

Mrs. Pirate texted me to let me know they used their strawberries to make popsicles.  We didn't have any left for "making" things, since Thatkid started requesting strawberries at every meal, and snack.  "I only want strawberries for lunch."  Then of course Thatboy got a hold of the bucket, popping them in his mouth like candy.  Sweet summer candy.

So instead of sharing a great strawberry recipe with you (that is more complicated than "take off the green part and put in mouth) we'll just go with something pink.  Pink cookies.  Jimmy's pink cookies.

These cookies definitely live up to their reputation.  They were fantastic.  And we shared them with friends who enjoyed them as much as we did (the recipe makes a ton).  Thatboy and I share a love for cream cheese frosting, especially the sugary kind found at Sprinkle's Cupcakes.  This isn't quite as sweet - which is probably a good thing in terms of mass appeal.  The color and flavor comes from food coloring and kirsch, but I would put money on the fact that using strawberries instead would give a similar pink tinge and a delicious flavor.

This is also the first cookie I've made that used powdered sugar in the cookie itself.  I think this helps lead to the flakey softness of the cookie, but I'll have to try using it in a couple other recipes - just to be sure.  Oh the hardships I put myself through.

Jimmy's Pink Cookies (From A Homemade Life)

3 sticks + 6 Tbsp butter,room temperature

4 cups powdered sugar, divided

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

8oz cream cheese, at room temp

1 1/4 tsp kirsch

red food coloring

1. Combine 3 sticks of butter and 1 cup powdered sugar in a stand mixture and beat at low speed, increasing to medium speed until light and fluffy.
2. Combine flour and salt in a medium in a separate bowl.
3. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until the flour is absorbed. 
4. Add the vanilla and beat well.  Turn the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and pre into a thick disc, wrapping well. Refrigerate 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 375.  Line 2 baking skeets with silicone liners.  Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.  Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into whatever shapes you'd like.
6. Place cookies on prepared baking sheet, baking one sheet at a time for 16 to 20 minutes.  Transfer pan to cooling rack and let cool completely. 
7. Combine the remaining butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth.
8. Add the remaining powdered sugar and beat on low speed to fully incorporate, then increase speed to medium and beat until their are no lumps. 
9. Add the kirsch and a couple drops of red food coloring and beat well. 
10. Spread onto fully cooled cookies.