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Rock N’ Roll Cookies / How To Make / Easy Home Baking Tips & Tricks

Rock N Roll Cookies with Frosted Almond Fingernails

These fun rock n roll hand shaped sugar cookies are decorated with painted almond fingernails and royal icing band logos. Perfect for Halloween, music themed parties, and rock music lovers. A creative and delicious baking project for all ages.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 24 Cookies
Course: Dessert, Cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp baking powder
For the Cookies
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp bourbon optional
For the Almond Fingernails
  • 2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp milk plus more as needed
  • 1 gel food coloring of choice
  • 120 sliced almond pieces (5 per cookie)

Method
 

  1. STEP 1 : Mix Dry Ingredients
    In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk together and set aside.
  2. STEP 2 : Cream Butter and Sugar
    In a large bowl or stand mixer cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg, vanilla, and bourbon until fully combined.
  3. STEP 3 : Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
    Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients half at a time. Stir until a soft dough forms.
  4. STEP 4 : Chill the Dough
    Scrape dough onto plastic wrap and shape into a flat rectangle. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  5. STEP 5 : Prepare Almond Fingernails
    While dough chills select the most nail-shaped almond slices. Sort into sets of five per cookie.
  6. STEP 6 : Make the Royal Icing
    Stir together powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk. Add more milk drop by drop until piping consistency is reached. Divide into portions and add gel food coloring to each.
  7. STEP 7 : Paint the Almond Nails
    Spread thin flood consistency icing onto one side of each almond slice using a toothpick. Dry completely on wax paper before adding designs.
  8. STEP 8 : Pipe Designs on Nails
    Once base coat is fully dry pipe designs onto almond nails using piping consistency icing. Allow to dry completely on wax paper.
  9. STEP 9 : Cut and Shape Cookies
    Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll chilled dough on powdered sugar dusted surface. Cut into hand shapes using cookie cutter. Fold middle finger ring finger and thumb inward to form devil horns.
  10. STEP 10 : Bake the Cookies
    Transfer to lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until lightly golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack.
  11. STEP 11: Attach the Fingernails
    Once cookies are completely cool apply a drop of icing to the back of each almond nail. Press onto upward facing fingers first then flip and attach remaining nails. Allow to set completely.

Notes

Bourbon substitute:
Replace bourbon with 1 tablespoon of water or
leave it out entirely without affecting texture.
Icing tip:
Make two separate bowls for each color — one
piping consistency and one flood consistency.
Never mix them or your designs will bleed.
Black food coloring warning:
Wilton black gel coloring stains everything it
touches including your tongue and fingers. Use
sparingly and wash hands immediately.
Finger cracking tip:
If cookie fingers crack when shaping simply press
dough back together gently. Chilling the dough
thoroughly before shaping reduces cracking.
Make ahead:
Dough can be refrigerated overnight. Painted almond
nails can be made 1 to 2 days ahead and stored
on wax paper at room temperature.