Sugar cookies are a great treat! I love baking and decorating and trying new designs. These sports ball shaped cookies were super fun to make (and eat).

Here's how to make your own (makes approximately 20 cookies):

What you'll need:

• 2 sticks of unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• White fondant
• Edible paint, gel or pens
• Sports ball cookie stencils (alternatively you can simply draw or paint the images on)
• Edible glue (or water)

How to make the cookies:

1. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy, around 2 minutes.
2. Beat in the egg yolks, vanilla, baking powder and salt.
3. Beat in the flour at low speed.  
4. Divide the dough into thirds and pat into disks. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate until chilled, around 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 175°C and line a tray with baking paper.
6. Roll out a disk of dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/2 a centimetre thick.
7. Using a 3 inch cookie cutter, stamp out the cookies and put them on the baking paper 1 inch apart. You can cut out the football using an extra large round cutter and cutting it twice for the top and bottom. Alternatively, use a knife.
8. Bake the cookies in the middle rack of the oven until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. 
9. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining disks of dough. 

Decorating:

1. Roll out some white fondant to about 2-3mm thick.
2. Carefully press into the fondant with the sports ball cookie stencil. When you lift the stencil, you'll be able to see the imprint.
3. Cut out the ball shapes with a round cookie cutter or knife.
4. Use edible glue or water to stick the fondant onto the cookies.
5. Colour the balls however you like. To get the tennis ball colour, I mixed some Americolor Electric Yellow and Electric Green gel together. I also added some silver shimmer to the volleyball.
6. Wait for the paint to dry.
7. Share and enjoy!