Cow Cookies
These sugar cookies have moo-ved straight into the land of adorable! Made with a no-spread sugar cookie dough, so easy to whip up, and even cuter to look at.. With a trio of flavors — vanilla, chocolate, and dark chocolate — these cookies are sure to steal your heart and taste buds.
seo- cow cookies, cow sugar cookies, cow print cookies
From Blonde d’Aquitaine to Holsteins, Jerseys, and Black Angus Steers. I’m no cow expert, but I think I got the names right. But one thing I’m positive about is that I love cows!
I’ve loved cows for as long as I can remember. No matter where we travel, if I spot them, I always want to stop and say hello. It makes me so happy when there’s time to pause and visit. Over the years, I’ve taken photos of cows from all across the U.S. Each one holds a great memory.
Some favorite memories of trips we’ve taken involve me talking to the cows. I’m so happy my husband doesn’t mind the pit stops. The cows at Tillamook were good listeners! Now my husband will ask if I want him to stop when he spots them first. Yes!
It was about time I made some cookies representing my love of cows! I thought I’d make them all “cow print” or cowhide (Holstein spots), but once I got baking, all sorts of cows appeared. Blonde, brown, dark brown/black with a black onyx cocoa.
The Trick to Getting Realistic Chocolate Cow Spots
- Roll out vanilla cookie dough 1/4″ thick
- Add small pieces of chocolate cookie dough on top
- Use a rolling pin to press the spots into the dough
Use plastic wrap to keep the dough smooth and the small pieces from lifting up off the vanilla cookie dough.
The plastic wrap also helps to avoid adding more flour to the cookie dough, which could dry it out.
This is my preferred method to roll out cookies, parchment paper or wax paper are also good options.
Dip the cookie cutter into flour to ensure a clean cut through the cookie dough. This will also help prevent the cookie dough from sticking to the cutter, resulting in nicely cut cookies with clean edges.
Aren’t they cute?!
If you’re looking for a unique cookie idea that’s both easy and eye-catching, these Holstein cow cookies are the perfect pick! Made with buttery vanilla sugar cookie dough with dark and milk chocolate cookie dough added, they bake up with adorable cow-like spots that resemble real Holstein markings. No need for royal icing or elaborate decorating, these cookies do the work for you in the oven.
If you need a laugh, you have to check out my favorite cow… Bruce, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post from @Elias_filmz I didn’t laugh at!
- I used this cow cookie cutter
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Sheets
- For great tasting cookies, use this vanilla extract or some great tasting vanilla bean paste!
- More tips on baking cut-out cookies here.
Whip up these adorable cow cut-out cookies using soft vanilla dough and rolled-in dark and milk chocolate to create Holstein-style spots. A fun and easy farm animal cookie recipe perfect for parties, cow lovers, or just because!
Cow Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter,
- 1 1/2 cups cups powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspooons vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour don't add all the flour at once (read instructions for chocolate versions)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt Yes, I add salt even when using salted butter. If you prefer your cookies really sweet, don't add additional salt.
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa regular chocolate cocoa, or dark chocolate, or black cocoa (black onyx)
Instructions
- You'll make the cookie dough, then split it into 3 portions if you want vanilla, medium chocolate, and a dark/black chocolate. Adjust how much dough you'll want of each color or a mix when making the cow print. If you want them all cow-print, you'll only need 1/8-1/4 of the dough to be chocolate, as you'll then add small pieces to the top of the vanilla cookie dough and roll it smooth, then cut the cow shape with a cookie cutter.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix the butter until smooth, whipped, and light in color for at least 2 minutes.
- Add in the powdered sugar and mix to combine with the butter.
- Add in the egg and vanilla and mix on medium until combined.
- Add in 2 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until smooth on medium to medium-high speed, the dough will pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl.
- Split the dough into the portions you want. Add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa (one at a time) to the portions and mix by hand to combine or use the mixer. Add in another tablespoon if needed for the desired color/flavor. (I take a piece off and taste it)
- Add a tablespoon or two of flour (one at a time) to the vanilla cookie portion if you need it a little firmer, and mix well to combine.
- You don't want the cookie dough to be dry, as the dry ingredients will absorb the moisture from the butter as you mix it. If by chance any of the cookie dough portions become too dry, add a tablespoon or less of soft butter to your hands and knead it into that portion of dough.
- Roll the cookie dough to 1/4" thick. I use two 1/4" dowels and place the rolling pin on top to be sure all the cookies will be an even thickness.
- When making the cow-print versions, place the vanilla cookie dough and roll it smooth, then add small pieces of chocolate cookie dough on top, then roll it smooth, then place teh cookie cutter in flour, then cut the cookie dough.
- Place the cut cookie dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 7-9 minutes, until the cookies are firm and golden in color on the bottoms.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow them to cool on the baking sheets.
- Completely cooled cookies can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for 5 days, or wrapped well and frozen for 2 months.
