Mardi Gras Mask Cookies: the fun Carnival recipe for shortbread masquerade cookies

Mardi Gras mask cookies are delicious and impressive cookies with a classic mask shape. They are made with a crumbly shortcrust pastry, with a vanilla flavor, then decorated with melted dark chocolate and colored sugar sprinkles.

Perfect for the most colorful and fun party of the year, these Carnival mask cookies can be made in many different shapes even without a cookie cutter. Simply print the chosen model on a paper sheet and cut out the shortcrust pastry, so as to obtain always different pastries.

Delicious and fragrant, masquerade cookies can be also made for birthdays, themed parties or for an afternoon buffet. Accompanied by a spicy infusion or a good espresso, you can also serve them at tea time or at the end of a dinner with friends.

To obtain a smooth and fine shortcrust pastry, it is best to use the powdered sugar and blend everything, but if you prefer you can also use granulated sugar, fine or very fine. Knead quickly, just long enough to compact the ingredients, and then transfer the dough to the refrigerator for at least half an hour.

Make these Mardi Gras mask cookies with kids, they will have a lot of fun creating their own cookie mask to wear and eat.

Tips for making Masquerade Cookies

You can flavor the masquerade cookies with grated orange peel and a teaspoon of honey.

You can decorate the surface as you prefer using chopped pistachios, chopped hazelnuts, grated coconut and colored royal icing.

You can also dip Carnival masks in a sugar glaze or use white chocolate or milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate.

How to store Carnival Mask Cookies

Carnival masks can be stored at room temperature, in a food bag, for a maximum of one week. They can be also frozen for 1-2 months.

How to make the Mardi Gras Mask Cookies

Prepare the shortcrust pastry; pour the flour, powdered sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder and salt into a stand mixer. Add the soft butter into small pieces.

Blend everything quickly until soft and homogeneous.

Transfer the dough onto the floured work surface, knead it for a few moments, wrap it in cling film and let it rest for an hour in the refrigerator.

Take back the dough, roll it out with a rolling pin giving a thickness of 4-5 millimeters.

Place the paper sheet model on the pastry sheet, it must be no more than 10-12 centimeters wide so as not to get too large biscuits.

Cut out the shape with a kitchen cutting wheel or a small knife, then also cut out the eyes with a wooden toothpick . You will get about thirty pieces in all.

Place the shortcrust pastry masks on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, spacing them by a few centimeters. Bake at 180 degrees C (356 degrees F) for about 15 minutes.

Remove the Carnival masks from the oven, let them cool on a wire rack for cakes and then decorate them as desired with melted dark chocolate.

Add the colored sugar sprinkles to the still liquid dark chocolate.

Let the dark chocolate dry and then serve your Mardi Gras mask cookies.