Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for the ‘Rolled’ Category

Cookies can be so ornate these days that they are actually works of art. If you are interested in creating your own little artistic masterpieces, consider cookie stenciling. Many stencils can be purchased online or in a kitchen store for cookie baking, but you can also make your own. Heart shaped cookies with the words "I Love You" stenciled across them would make a thoughtful valentine's day cookie bouquet.

It’s labor intensive, but fun to make a cookie stencil. Think of the stencils you used as a kid or stencils you see in art stores. You can, in fact, use any stencil that you find. You just need a clean stencil and a clean X-Acto knife to cut the cookie out.

Start with a sugar cookie dough. It’s best not to use a dough that is store bought. Those doughs are designed for slice and bake recipes. They tend to flatten out and burn in the oven if you try to do anything else with them.

Make your cookie dough batter from your favorite recipe. Then let it chill while you create your stencil.

You’re going to need sheets of acetate or vellum which you can find in office supply or discount stores. The acetate sheets are the ones that teachers use for overhead projectors. Vellum is just a clear sheet that artists use. It’s thicker than tissue paper so you can cut it, but you can see what’s underneath much like a tracing paper.

Find a design you like. It can be from a book or from online. Use a design that is not so intricate that you will be cutting until all hours of the night. You want to start with a simple stencil. Maybe a leaf or a bird.

Once you have found your design, print it out. Lay it down on your work surface. If it’s not the right size, you’ll want to reduce or enlarge it now on a copier. Place the acetate or vellum over the image. Trace it with marker. Remove the image and cut it out. Intricate parts of it will need to be cut with the tip of an X-Acto knife, so work on a rubber mat or a cutting board, never your table.

Once the design is cut out, you’ll be placing it on the cookie dough. Round up a ball of cookie dough and then press it flat. Or roll out a big piece so you have a whole sheet to stencil on. Place the stencil on top of the cookie area you want to cut out. Cut out the areas that make the design on stencil. Then cut around in a square or circular shape for the size of the cookie you want. Lift with a spatula carefully and transfer to a cookie sheet. Bake as per your recipe’s instructions.

If you want a less labor intensive way to use a cookie stencil, use food coloring powder and a stencil brush. You can tamp your brush into the powdery food coloring and stamp it onto the cookie directly. Cut the shape of the cookie out with a cookie cutter in a circle or other shape that fits your stencil’s design. Food coloring powders can be found at large craft stores or in cake supply stores.

It’s fun to make stenciled cookies. They’ll look like you spend a long time making them, but actually, once you cut the stamp they are very easy to do. Try cutting out flower shaped cookies and create a beautiful flower cookie arrangement. Have a stencil making party where you and friends get together and make a bunch of stencils. Then you can all trade stencils so everyone gets a chance to go home with a luscious batch of delicious and adorable cookies.

Another version you can do with a stencil is to make ornaments with it. Do the same thing you would with the cookie dough, but use home made salt dough or a baking clay. Of course, you can’t eat them, but they’ll look pretty on your tree or as package ties.

If you’re looking for unique bridal shower favors or baby shower favors, cookie cutters make an easy and fun choice. Since cookie cutters come in every shape and size imaginable, it is not hard to find one that will match the party’s theme.

Start by thinking about the focal point of the party. Is it babies and rubber ducks or rocking horses? Is it white and red for a Valentine’s Day wedding? Choosing a theme can make it easier to find favors that blend seamlessly into the décor.

Once you’ve got your party theme set, it’s time to start the hunt. Begin by going to a high-end kitchen store like Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table. Both of these companies have online shopping sites if you don’t have a store near you. Look for cookie cutters in copper or tin that match your décor. Often, there’s a whole section devoted to nothing but cookie cutters.

If you can’t find a size and shape you’re looking for, start searching online with terms like “rocking horse cookie cutter.” Chances are you’ll find what you’re looking for in a few simple clicks. Copper cookie cutters can be pricey, so you may want to opt for less expensive tin ones.

Many wedding favor shops online sell cookie cutter wedding favors already made up. But you’ll be limited to a few selections like hearts or doves. If those aren’t what you had in mind, get ready to wrap your own favors.

One nice thing you can do is include the favor with a recipe card. Then guests can actually use their favor. Cut a length of ribbon that coordinates with your party colors. Punch a hole through your recipe card and attach it to the cookie cutter.

Another nice way to display a cookie cutter favor is to actually make a batch of cookies using one of the cookie cutters. Then you can frost and decorate them, wrap them in clear plastic wrap and include them with the cutters. Cookie party favors add a nice touch.

Here’s a recipe from Betty Crocker for sugar cookies. It can work with any cookie cutter you choose. So throw a cookie baking party and make some goodies to go with your favors.

Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies

3 cups powdered sugar

2 cups butter or margarine, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 eggs

5 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Decorator’s Glaze

4 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup water

¼ cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon almond extract

Food colors, as desired

Decorations

Betty Crocker® decorating gel (in 0.68-oz tubes), colored sugar and/or decors, if desired

Betty Crocker® decorating icing (in 4.25-oz tubes), if desired

Flaked coconut, if desired

Directions:

In large bowl, beat 3 cups powdered sugar, the butter, vanilla, 1 teaspoon almond extract and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Divide dough in half. On lightly floured surface, roll each half 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with 3-inch cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In small bowl, beat all glaze ingredients except food colors on low speed until smooth. Divide among several small bowls. Stir desired food color, one drop at a time, into each until desired color. Decorate cookies with glaze and other decorations as desired.

More interested in cookie cutters? Try these articles:

• How to collect copper cookie cutters
• How to make your own cookie cutters
  

If you're looking to add a little something to your table of cookies this year, try coconut balls for something extra special.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 cups flaked coconut

Boil the sugar and water until a thread is formed when fork is dipped in and raised. Stir in the coconut; cook over low heat, stirring frequently until a soft ball is formed when mixture is dropped into cold water.

Drop by tablespoon onto a greased surface. Cool.

For more coconut recipes, try:

• Coconut Pecan Frosted Brownies
• Coconut Cream Pudding
• Coconut Pancakes
• Coconut Fritters

• 1 cup Crisco shortening

• 1 cup margarine

• 1 – 8 oz. package cream cheese

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 egg yolks

• 1 tsp. salt

• 5 cups flour

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1 tsp. almond extract

Cream together shortening, margarine, cream cheese and sugar. Then add the egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract. Stir in the salt and add the flour until combined well. Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least an hour. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until it is 1/8” thick. Cut out with cookie cutters shaped like trees, stars, and other festive Christmas designs. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350° until the edges of the cookies turn just a light brown. Cool cookies on a wire rack and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• 3 Tbsp. cream

• 1/4 cup margarine

• 1 tsp. almond extract

• Food coloring

• Sugar Sprinkles to decorate

Mix together the cream, margarine and almond extract. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time mixing until it is smooth and a frosting consistency. You may need slightly less or more than 2 cups depending on conditions. Split frosting into a couple bowls and use food coloring to tint the frosting whatever colors you want. For example, you might want green for the trees and yellow for the stars. Use sugar sprinkles to decorate as desired. Frost the cooled cut-out cookies and let the frosting set prior to storing in an airtight container. Store decorated cookies in the refrigerator.

For more delicious Christmas cookie recipes, try:

• How to Paint Christmas Cookies
• Christmas Cookie Decorating 101
• Peanut Butter Cup Christmas Cookies
• Christmas Spritz Cookies
• Christmas Wreaths