This post originally appeared on Somewhat Simple.  These flowers are a fun way to celebrate Spring…without the hassle of rolling and cutting your cookie dough!  With these easy instructions, you can have them done in no time, and I bet your kids will like them as much as mine!

Sometimes our Utah winters seem so long and drawn out, so when the flowers start peeking out of the ground, I am ready to party! If you are as excited about Spring as I am, then these darling flower sugar cookies {without cutters!} are for you! These cookies are adorable and easy, plus they “bloom” much quicker than the flowers in your garden!

INGREDIENTS:

• sugar cookie dough (use your favorite store-bought sugar cookie dough, or try THIS awesome recipe)
• small, round candies
• colored sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Form cookie dough into one-inch balls (my cookie scoop is the perfect size for this). Roll each dough ball between your hands to make it smooth.
2. Take a sharp pairing knife and cut slits through the dough ball about 3/4 of the way to the middle, from the edge. If the dough sticks to your knife, chill it so it’s easier to slice. Make 6 cuts per dough ball.
3. With a clean finger tip, press down in the center of the dough ball to separate the petals from each other.  Add sprinkles or colored sugar to the center, if desired. If you are using a round candy as your flower center, place it in the middle and then press down to separate the petals.
4. Sprinkle with colored sugar, if desired.
5. Bake according to recipe/package directions.
6. Enjoy a little taste of Spring right in your kitchen!

HELPFUL TIPS:

• If the dough sticks to your knife, chill it so it’s easier to slice. Soft dough will stick to your knife, which will result in a jagged petal base. You can use any round candy for the center.
• I used some googly eyes from Halloween and just turned them upside down! I also used some M&M’s for a few, but I just liked the googly eyes best.
• I pressed some colored sugar onto my flowers to make them a little more festive.
• You can also add a couple of drops of food coloring to your dough, as it’s mixing, for a fun flower hue.