Iced sugar cookies

[carolyn0519]

I am making the Iced Sugar Cookies in the DEC Food network magazine. The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons meringue powder, I have not been able to find, can I use cream of tartar instead! Also what is the difference between cake flour and all purpose flour?

[Chocolatl]

No, meringue powder and cream of tartar are entirely different things. Meringue powder is actually itself a substitute for raw egg whites. The only thing that might work in this recipe is powdered egg whites. You would be better off substituting a different icing recipe, such as this one: Royal Icing You can used pasteurized egg whites if you're worried about salmonella.

Cake flour is softer than all-purpose flour; it has less gluten. Cookies made with cake flour spread less and hold their shape better than cookies made with all-purpose flour, but either will work.