Cute and simple ladybug and bumble bee cookies are perfect for spring!
bug slice and bake cookies
I love these bug slice and bake cookies! They are simple to make (as long as you don't mind a little imperfection.)
This post for bug cookies originally appeared on my other site, the Decorated Cookie.
more fun cookies to make
You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.what are refrigerated cookies?
Refrigerated cookies, also know as ice box cookies and slice and bake cookies, start with cookie dough rolled into a log and put in the refrigerator (ice box). When chilled, remove the log, slice the dough, and bake.
Here, I tinted the dough with food coloring and arranged the pieces so when cut, the pieces formed bumble bees and lady bugs.
ingredients
To make the cookies, start with our best cut-out sugar cookie recipe with powdered sugar.
For the dry ingredients, you'll need all-purpose flour and salt. That's it! Because the cookies are more similar to shortbread, no baking soda or powder is used.
While most bakers use unsalted butter to make cookies, my personal preference is to use salted butter. I like the extra bite of salt.
You'll also need confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar or icing sugar) and a large egg.
You may stick with only pure vanilla extract, but adding almond extract enhances the flavor.
tools
You’ll need several baking trays.
Line your trays with parchment paper for best results.
While our recipes provide both the metric and non-metric amounts, for best results, we recommend a digital scale.
I use an oven thermometer for accuracy. (This is how I know my oven runs 25 degrees cold.)
You will need a rolling pin to roll out the dough.
Use plastic wrap or wax paper to wrap the logs for the refrigerator.
Adding candy eyes is optional, but gosh they look cute.
For food coloring, I suggest Americolor soft gel pastes in BLACK, RED, and YELLOW.
how to make slice and bake cookies
After you prepare the cookie dough, divide it into three sections.
Mix the coloring into the dough in your standing mixer or with an electric hand mixer, cleaning the bowl after each color. (To avoid cleaning in between, you may also mix in this order: Yellow, Red, Black.)
Place each color dough in the refrigerator (I use a Ziplock bag for the doughs) and chill for 2 hours.
how to make bumble bee cookies
Press or roll out five strips of dough ⅜-inch thick, 2 inches wide, and 6 inches long, two black and three yellow.
Stack and shape into a rectangle.
Wrap in plastic wrap and chill again. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
how to make lady bug cookies
Press three strips of red dough the same size as for the bees.
Roll out a three black skinny logs and three red ones.
Stack the dough in this order: Red strip on the bottom. The next layer has two black logs in the center sandwiched in between the three red logs.
Place a strip of red dough on top.
Place a black log on top of that one and finish the top with the last red strip. Gently roll the whole thing into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm again.
bake your cookies
When ready, slice your cookies about ¼-inch thick and place on parchment paper-lined baking trays.
Bake one tray at a time in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
When cool, if desired, use dabs of light corn syrup or honey to adhere candy eyes to the cookies.
printable recipe
bug slice and bake cookies
Make these cute and yummy bumble bee and lady bug slice and bake cookies for spring, a bug or garden party or just for fun.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened (226 grams)
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar (110 grams)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure almond extract (optional)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (320 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt (use ½ teaspoon salt if using salted butter)
- TOOLS:
- candy eyes
- Red, Yellow, and Black food coloring (Americolor brand recommended)
Instructions
- First, prepare the cookie dough. Briefly whisk together the flour and salt in a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a standing mixer with the flat beater, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, blend the butter and sugar together on medium speed until fluffy. Add the egg and blend well. Mix in the vanilla extract and optional flavored extract, if using. Gradually blend in the flour mixture on low speed.
- Mix the coloring into the dough in your standing mixer or with an electric hand mixer, cleaning the bowl after each color. Place each color dough in the refrigerator (I use a Ziplock bag for the doughs) and chill for 2 hours.
- For the bees, on a lightly floured surface, press or roll out five strips of dough ⅜-inch thick, 2 inches wide, and 6 inches long, two black and three yellow. Stack and shape into a rectangle. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill again. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- For the ladybugs, press three strips of red dough the same size as for the bees. Roll out three black skinny logs and three red ones to match the length of the strips.
- Stack the dough in this order: Red strip on the bottom. The next layer has two black logs in the center sandwiched in between the three red logs. Place a strip of red dough on top. Place a black log on top of that one and finish the top with the last red strip. Gently roll the whole thing into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm again.
- When ready, slice your cookies about ¼-inch thick and place on parchment paper-lined baking trays. You should have about 16 of each.
- Bake one tray at a time in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
- When cool, if desired, use dabs of light corn syrup or honey to adhere candy eyes to the cookies.
Notes
TIP: When coloring the dough, to avoid cleaning the bowl n between, you may also mix in this order: Yellow, Red, Black.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
32Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 104Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 69mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 1g
HowToMakeEasyCookies.com offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you use to create this recipe.
more fun food ideas for bugs
Hosting a bug party? Here are more buggy fun foods.
- Maybe kids will eat BUG veggies!
- Make some creepy crawly bug chocolate bark.
- Adorable Nutter Butter bumble bee cookies.
- Fudgy Brownies Recipe - June 28, 2023
- watermelon slice cookies - June 15, 2023
- white cake mix cookies - May 26, 2023
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