Gluten Free Easter Cookies with Easy Natural Food Dye Icing

Hi all, I know I've been MIA the last couple of weeks and I apologize. Things are hectic as I try to finish editing the 3rd novel in my romance series, and I'm working on creating a brand spankin' new author website, totally separate from the blog.

But I haven't forgotten about you all. And I haven't forgotten that it's Easter weekend!!

Sooo, I'm no artist when it comes to decorating, but I am pretty pleased with how these sugar cookies / spritz cookies turned out. I made my own naturally dyed icing, and I'm going to share my secret with you below. It's so simple, you're going to want to try and make these all on your own. 

I know, I'm no Picasso with an icing bag, but at least they are bright and cheerful and fun!

So here's how I did it:

First I whipped up a batch of my Gluten Free Shortbread Cookie / Thumbprint / Icebox Cookie batter

Then I used my brand new Cookie Press to make about 75 spritz cookies, baking them for about 10 minutes. Let them cool.


In the meantime, make some fun icing!

I don't have all the colours represented here because I didn't have everything I needed this time around, but I've used them before and can attest that they work. You can see my pink beet icing on my Gluten Free Beet Chocolate Muffins    and my Gluten Free Chocolate Beet Cake Balls.



Easy Gluten Free Icing Base (dairy-free, too!)

3/4 c icing sugar
1 tsp orange blossom water (or vanilla if preferred)
1-2 tsp water

Add your chosen colouring and mix until blended and scoop into a piping bag, adjusting sugar and water if needed. 







To make natural yellow icing

1/4 tsp ground turmeric



To make natural green icing

1/2 tsp matcha green tea powder



To make natural pink icing

1 slice raw or baked beet - mix icing and stir beet into icing until evenly coloured. Remove beet slice.


To make natural purple/blue icing

1/4 c blueberries, simmered or microwaved until cooked, smash out juice, strain, and mix into dry icing ingredients. Adjust water and sugar as needed. 


How does it taste?


Of course when you're adding certain things it will slightly affect the taste. Match powder has a slight green tea flavour. If you dislike this, you can add a bit more vanilla or orange blossom water. The turmeric and beets don't add much in the way of flavour, and the blueberries will have a very slight flavouring.

Overall, I really like my easy, homemade, natural icings! 


What are you up to this Easter weekend?

Did you know the latest novel in my Ancient Egyptian Romances series is available now? Follow the unlikely pair of Ebrium and Satsobek as they journey from the secret recesses of the Temple of Mehyt through the seedy underbelly of Ancient Egypt.