Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup vanilla or white chips
  • 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • Pink or red liquid or paste food coloring

Method

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Form seven balls, using 1/4 cup of dough for each. Form three balls, using about 1/2 cup of dough for each. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Sprinkle each ball with sugar and place each one between two sheets of waxed paper. Roll smaller balls into 6-in. circles. Roll larger balls into 9-in. circles. Remove top sheet of waxed paper and flip invert circles onto ungreased
  • . Remove waxed paper; prick cookies with a fork.
  • Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Carefully loosen cookies and cool on paper towels.
  • In a small heavy saucepan or microwave, melt chips and half-and-half; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature. Combine whipped cream and vanilla; fold into melted mixture.
  • To form bonnet brim, layer 9-in. cookies on a serving platter or Covered board (about 15 in. square), spreading 1/2 cup filling between layers. For crown, spread 1/4 cup filling on the bottom of one 6-in. cookie and center cookie on top of the 9-in. layer. Layer remaining 6-in. cookies, spreading 1/4 cup filling between layers. Refrigerate overnight.
  • For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter, shortening and sugar on low speed until blended; beat on high for 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Gradually add cream and extract; beat until smooth. Set aside 3/4 cup; tint remaining frosting pink.
  • Spread pink frosting over top and sides of cookies. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry bag or heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; insert star pastry tip #20. Fill bag with white frosting. Holding bag at a 45° angle, form shell border at base of bonnet. Using the same tip, form a reverse shell border on top of bonnet.
  • Using another pastry bag, basket weave pastry tip #48 and white frosting, hold bag at a 45° angle to form a ribbed border at base of crown. Decorate with silk flowers on one side of bonnet. Tie a piece of ribbon into a bow and place on opposite side of bonnet.