This week’s TWD recipe is Grandma’s All Occasion Sugar Cookies and was chosen by Ulrike of Kutchenlaten. This was a great choice for this time of year, as they are the perfect cookie to cut into shapes and decorate. We were going to friends for dinner on Saturday night and I always like to make them a little Christmas treat, and these were the perfect thing.
I found the dough to be quite sweet and also quite soft. The cookies didn’t bake as crisply as I would have liked. I used vanilla paste rather than vanilla extract which gave them the lovely vanilla flecks throughout as well as quite a strong vanilla flavour.
I had seen little cookies decorated as Christmas presents in Rocket Kitchen, so I thought I would emulate their idea. I was actually really pleased with how they turned out. I cut out fondant for the white part and then used a piping gel to pipe the bows. The only unfortunate part is that the piping gel doesn’t completely firm up like royal icing would, so they are not ideal to package up for gifts. While I like the look of my cookies, I actually prefer to make a firm shortbread for decorating cookies as it gives a firmer base and stays crisper. I will have to try the sugar cookies again as a slice and bake style cookie, as I’m not sure that they are the perfect cookie for decorating.
I bet there is a lot of creativity amongst the other TWDers – have a look here.
33 comments:
What cute little presents! I agree that these weren't my idea of a decorating cookie, but it looks like you didn't have a problem. Shortbread for decorating - I had never thought of that, so I might have to try it.
they are adorable!! love the little bows. i use vanilla paste too, it's so nice (and doesn't spill everywhere like extract... :) )
Wow- those are adorable! I love the shape and decorations.
Thanks for your comment about the cupcake pops... are you looking for something to dip them in? My favorite is just good chocolate with a little shortening (I'm sure you could sub in coconut oil or something) but it helps it firm up. I think you could also try white chocolate for the tops. I've never tried coloring it but I bet it would work (I'm sure someone on TWD knows!) Let me know if you try them.
Hey Tammy,
I would totally use a homemade frosting (I don't like to buy the stuff in the store- it's awful!)
This is my favorite frosting that I usually make... or Dorie's cream cheese frosting from Big Bill's Carrot cake would work. Last time I had some extra ganache I just threw in with the icing (as long as you chill the cake balls, I think it will be fine).
http://tinyurl.com/6r7x78
Good luck! :)
These are so pretty! Absolutely gorgeous. I found the dough ridiculously soft too.
I love the little present motif! They look so cute :) I much prefer vanilla paste over extract-nothing beats seeing the little flecks.
These are wonderful! I'm making mine tonight. Love the packaging too.
Those are adorable! I'll have to try shortbread as a decorating cookie - seems like they would be easier to work with, and tastier too.
Cute cookies. These cookies can be decorated in so many ways, and they don't taste that bad either.
Simply adorable! Love the little bow and gold dragee accent. And the packaging it so cute. Great job!
Clara @ iheartfood4thought
So adorable! Those look like they belong in a magazine.
These are totally adorable! I love the present idea.
Tammy I was reading Anne's comment and clicked onto her blog to read her frosting recipe.My question is,can you buy meringue frosting in NZ ? TIA (and I love your recent posts on decorated cookies).
These turned out sooooooooo adorable! I went with more traditional cut outs, but really love your presents!!
I'm speechless in the face of such delicately and oh! so wonderful cookies! Absolutely amazing, Tammy!
That's a great decorating idea! Very festive. =)
I love the presents, I might have to try that with the second half of the dough I stuck in the freezer
Oh my gosh, those are so cute!! I never thought to make them square shaped, yours are the third I have seen. I loved this recipe, though I prefer them to be soft and chewy :)
They look super, Tammy. What is icing gel and where do you get it?
Stephanie X
In answer to the questions, i havent seen meringue frosting in NZ and Stephanie, I got the icing gel from Millies. it comes in tube and costs about $7. You pipe it straight out of the tube. it tastes like icing, but doesnt set hard like icing
I love your packaging! I plan on doing something similar very soon for my family.
Hi Tammy,since I posted my question,I have found a NZ source for meringue powder,at Kiwi Cakes, just Google it.
actually, now that i think about it, you can buy meringue powder at millys in Auckland
Love the little presents. Too cute! I just bought some vanilla paste, and have yet to experiment with it. I'd better get on that.
Nancy
Adorable.. love the packages! (and the packaging for that matter... Very cute!)
that would make an awesome present reallie! i guess i'm going to have to start baking to get these out soon too! haha.
You certainly can't tell that they're not an ideal decorating cookie by looking at yours! Those presents are adorable and what a great idea to use fondant. I've never worked with it before -- I'm scared to use it -- but your cookies look so great that I might just have to try it!
Those little packages are so cute! Great job!
Your little presents are adorable! I get such great ideas from reading your blog! Thanks for the inspiration!
They look fabulous - thanks for the tips re the piping gels.
What a great gift idea, cookies that look like gifts!
I love the idea of cutting out fondant then piping icing on top. The only problem is that the fondant here tastes awful. Have to find a better source. But you didn't need to hear about that now, did you?
I think the cookies look great!
Very pretty little presents. Great work
Thanks for joining TWD and baking with me
Ulrike from Küchenlatein
you may not have thought they were the perfect cookie, but you decorated them perfectly! adorable!
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