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Groundhog Day Sugar Cookies

Living in Pennsylvania, it's only imperative that I make some Groundhog Day cookies for the coming holiday. If you have followed the blog over the years, you know that we have resident groundhogs on the property which we look forward to seeing every single year.  

These charming creatures are naturally skittish and solitary (Marmota monax), so we leave them alone and observe them from a distance.


The holiday itself comes from Pennsylvania Dutch (in reality it is the Pennsylvania German's observance of Candlemas) lore, which tells us that when the woodchuck comes out of hibernation, if the creature sees its shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter.  If the marmot does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.  

Since people around the country celebrate the holiday in some way or another, even if it's just to tune in to see what Punxsutawney Phil predicts, I thought it would be fun to make some cookies in honor of those adorable rodents.


Use whatever cookie cutter you wish, but for these I used a "tombstone" cookie cutter by Sweet Sugarbelle.  You can also use a snow globe cookie cutter if you have it, or a round, square or scalloped cutter.

Outline and flood the bottom portion of the cookie in green royal icing (this is the grass), and the top portion of the cookie in a light, sky blue; I use piping tips #3.  For the groundhog, using light brown royal icing and a #2 piping tip, pipe the woodchuck standing up on its hind legs.  You can either do this while the icing is wet so that the shape settles into the icing or you can pipe it onto a dry surface.  I prefer to do it on wet icing.  Using a scriber tool, drag the green icing upward, creating blades of grass as shown.  For the  eyes and nose of the groundhog use black royal icing.  


If you want to make the cookies extra cute, add a small candy heart to the groundhog while the icing is wet.  Let this dry completely,.

Adorable!!



Using white royal icing with a stiff consistency and a #2 piping tip, pipe "Happy Groundhog Day" on each cookie to commemorate the holiday.  The cookie is done!


How easy were these cute groundhog cookies?  As you know, I prefer to package my decorated sugar cookies in high-quality, clear cellophane bags.  Generally I use a ribbon to tie each bag, but sometimes I like the natural look of raffia.  I think groundhogs would approve of the use of this natural fiber.

Happy Groundhog Day!!

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  1. CBFebruary 28, 2023 at 12:00 PM

    I’m so glad you are posting again. I found your blog last year and it has been joy, especially the sugar cookie recipe and updated technique for rolling dough.

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