Springtime Sweetness Cookies

Using shaped cutters and a few simple techniques, it's easy to bring a fresh look of spring to your favorite homemade cookies. Tint dough before baking, or add colorful decorating touches using thinned dough, sprinkles or dazzling sugars or painted icing color designs. The options are endless.

Each cookie serves 1.

Step 1: Cut Cookies

Prepare cookie dough or use refrigerated sugar cookie dough. Divide into 4ths; keep 1 portion plain and tint remaining orange, rose and yellow. Roll out dough 1/4-inch thick; cut out flowers and butterflies, reserving leftover dough.

Step 2: Decorate

Thin reserved dough with water to piping consistency. Before baking, using thinned dough in bag fitted with tip 3, decorate outline, zigzag and dot designs on cookies. Sprinkle sugars or nonpareils on some cookies.

Step 3: Bake

Bake and cool cookies. To decorate baked cookies, use water tinted with icing colors or FoodWriters to paint designs or use tubed icing.