Construction-grade sugar-cookies?

[AZZenny]

I've made construction-grade gingerbread cookie dough for durable gingerbread houses that didn't crack under 5-10 lbs of candy decoration that was actually pretty edible, but now I would like a tasty but sturdy vanilla-type cookie to roll out and cut out for edible ornaments for kids to frost and decorate. Maybe even a sugar-cookie house for a change.

I have some yummy old butter-sugar cookie recipes, but they are a bit tender or crumbly to stand up to rough handling. I suppose I can just add a little more flour, but thought maybe someone would have an actual recipe.

 

[abomb]

Replace the flour with Quikcrete?

 

[phillycard]

Replace the flour with Quikcrete?

 

[AZZenny]

It's really weird to do an internet search and your own post on ASFN the #1 answer that comes up! That suggests there is (as yet) no such thing as construction grade sugar cookies. I was wondering if making cookies with a sugar syrup boiled to the hard candy stage would make stronger (as opposed to just tougher) cookies.

 

[AZZenny]

I found an old recipe for German 'Christmas Tree Biscuits' which are basically 4 c flour, 1 c sugar, 4 eggs and 1 t salt, and used to make cookie-wreaths and tree decorations -- you make the dough exactly as you would make pasta, working the eggs and sugar-flour together with your fingers, then kneading for 5 min or more. Roll out, cut, paint with an egg-yolk and sugar and food-coloring glaze, and bake low heat. Supposedly edible if dipped in coffee or tea, but otherwise hard as... quikrete.

Maybe I can sort of cross it with the construction-grade gingerbread recipe -- I could add in 4-5 TBSP of butter, maybe use 1/3 brown sugar, some vanilla and a pinch of baking powder. That would make it more cookie-like but still maintain much of the strength.

p.s. I can state for sure that a standard sugar-cookie recipe while delicious, does not stand up to load-bearing, and I had to do away with all the evidence.

 

[Linderbee]

:82: Good luck; your ideas seem sound to me. Be careful with the baking powder, though. Too much & I think you'll need to dispose of more evidence