Many people have contacted me wanting to know how my Sakura cookies ( called Shibuya 109’s or Easy Peasy Sakura Blossoms ) were made so they could make them for their own families or to put in their own bentos, well Charlotte gave me a reason to write it out - you may have to adjust your amounts, I make mine from memory so I don’t know the exactness of it, lol. So, for the holidays, here is my all time favorite sugar cookie recipe with “Happy Frosting Dance” Favorite Family Frosting from me and Laota.

(Shibuya 109’s) Easy Peasy Sakura Blossoms:

1 1/2 C Sugar
1 1/2 stick Butter ( better yet, the same amount of Crisco Pure Vegetable Shortening - not butter flavored, makes it light and airy)
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 tsp Maraschino Cherry juice
1 tsp Hibiscus Blossom Extract ( may need to extract it yourself, can be omitted )
1 tsp Lime Zest
3 1/4 C Flour
2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt

Sakura blossom cookie cutters ( available on eBay as Bento Cutters ) would be nice, but not required.

Mix your ingredients together slowly, scraping the bowl often, until they’r well combined then wrap them in plastic wrap and chill for AT LEAST 3 hours.

Roll your dough out on floured plastic wrap until 1/6 inch thick and cut with your Sakura cookie cutters ( they’re about 3/4 inch wide ) and place on a lightly greased baking sheet into a 400 Degree oven for 6 minutes. If you use ‘regular’ sized cutters ( about 3-4 inches wide ) bake for 10 minutes, larger ( 4-5 ) 12 minutes or until light brown. Let them cool completely before icing.

Worded from LaotasGallery.com:

“Happy Frosting Dance” Favorite Family Frosting

2 Cups Powered Sugar
1/4 Cup Crisco Pure Vegetable Shortening (not butter flavored)
2 1/2 Tablespoon of Milk
Teaspoon of Vanilla
( for Sakura cookies, mix in 1 drop of red food coloring to make a pale pink decoration for your cookies! )

Combine ingredients and beat it on high for three minutes with an electric mixer until blended and creamy, then cover and refrigerate, and do your “Happy Frosting Dance” for half an hour, until the frosting is stiff. Food coloring can be added.

Wasn’t that quick and painless? You even got some dancing in!

The frosted cookies have a sweet, but not too sweet, florally cherry taste and you can even crush some chocolate kisses and sprinkle it ontop of the frosting with chopped up pieces of cherries for an added sweetness.