Teacakes with Springy Glaze.

This morning Buffalonians woke up to the ground covered in snow. Disappointing, of course, but not a big deal. I shoveled the heavy, wet snow off of our driveway by 11AM and thought "Yeah, take that, snow!" Not an hour later it started snowing again and hasn't stopped since.  I can't help but be discouraged about spring being here when I look out my window and all I see is falling snow and everything covered in white white white!


What's all this complaining about? I hate to admit that the weather affects my mood, but it most certainly does. Winter weather gets extremely tiresome, even to Buffalonians and people who are used to dealing with cold, snowy, messy weather. What's the best thing to do in situations like these? Create something that makes you happy. In my case, tender cookies with a springy sky-blue glaze and pastel confetti sprinkles.

These are so, so good - slightly golden and crispy on the outside, soft, cakey and fluffy inside. The glaze gives them just the right amount of extra sweetness, but you could also sprinkle them with some granulated or decorating sugar before baking if you don't want to bother with it. Pastel confetti sprinkles make me a very happy girl so I sprinkled away. Have fun with these and I hope they lift your spirits into a more spring-y mood :)

Teacakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups self raising flour (such as White Lily)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, adding the eggs one at a time and then mix well. Add the vanilla extract, then the flour and stir until everything is well incorporated.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheets and bake until lightly golden on the outside, about 8-12 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack before glazing.

  
Glaze:
2 cups confectioner's sugar
Enough water to make a thin glaze
Food coloring
Sprinkles

In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and water, adding as much as you need to get a thin, pourable glaze. Add the food coloring until you get your desired shade of happiness, then dunk the cookies in and let them dry on a cooling rack, sprinkling away before the glaze sets.