👩🍳 Preparation
- 🌾 Make the Shortbread Dough: In a bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour and salt until a smooth dough forms. Shape into a ball, wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- 🍪 Cut the Cookies: Roll out the chilled dough to 5 mm thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut festive shapes (stars, snowflakes, fir trees, flowers). Place the shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- 🔥 Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (340°F) for 10–12 minutes or until just golden around the edges. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating.
- 🍚 Make the Royal Icing: Whisk together icing sugar, egg white, and lemon juice until thick and glossy. If desired, divide and tint one portion with red food coloring.
- ❄️ Decorate: Fill piping bags with icing and decorate cookies with dots, outlines, snowflakes, and festive patterns. While the icing is still wet, add sugar pearls and edible glitter. Let cookies dry fully before assembling.
- 🍭 Add Candy Canes: Nestle 1–2 miniature candy canes into the bouquet for extra holiday spirit and a pop of color.
- 🎀 Assemble the Bouquet: Arrange dry, decorated cookies in a cone of red decorative paper. Add fir branches for fullness and shape, then tie the base with a festive ribbon to secure.
💡 Tips & Variations
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