The liquid amber trees in our yard are starting to drop leaves and I find great satisfaction in raking them up ... at least at the beginning of the season. I know I’ll grow weary of it in a week or two, but the first signs of autumn always give me joy. These beautiful, messy trees also inspired me to create cutout cookies and multi-colored Autumn Leaves are the result. I had so much fun making them and decorating them. I must admit that when it comes to leaves...baking them is more satisfying than raking them. But I can eat more if I rake more so raking has its advantages.
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
I was inspired to make these multi-colored leaves by a post on One Hot Oven for Autumn Leaf Sugar Cookies with Maple Syrup. I recommend that you check it out and maybe even give them a try yourself. Cookie artist Jerè gives detailed instructions with lots of great photos to guide you along. Then, because I’m obsessed with bling, I decided to dip one side of each cookie in white chocolate ganache and then use the white chocolate ganache to pipe intricate veins on top of each leaf. Whenever I spend a lot of time decorating cookies, I always feel a deep sense of peace and accomplishment. Three cheers for “Cookie Therapy.”
Cookie specifics
Autumn Leaf Sugar Cookies with Maple Syrup. The use of brown sugar and maple syrup in the dough makes these cutout cookies unique in flavor and texture. Separating the dough into 3 equal portions and using gel colors to make red, orange, and “natural” colored logs is a great way to add color to each cookie. You simply twist the logs together to make multicolored dough before rolling them out. Thanks to Jere’ for her detailed instructions.
White Chocolate Ganache. I dipped one half of each cookie in white chocolate ganache and that pumped up the flavor to an A+ in the opinion of my cookie tasters. Piping each leaf with detailed veins gave me some well-earned “Cookie Therapy” to let my mind think about future cookie projects.
Shapes
maple leaf, elm leaf, oak leaf cookie cutters
Sizes
Each leaf was about 2½ to 3 inches, which is my favorite size for decorating and eating!
Cookie Recipe from This Talented Cookie Artist
Autumn Leaf Sugar Cookies with Maple Syrup. Original recipe from One Hot Oven.
My Ganache
White Chocolate Ganache: I used a 3:1 ration of Guittard White Chocolate to water for the ganache. Yes, I use water instead of cream in most of my ganache recipes. It makes the cookies more stable for a longer period of time. I used the ganache to dip half of each cookie and then spooned it into a piping bag to add the veins.
Cookies
Cookies: butter, brown sugar, egg, maple syrup, flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, red and orange gel food coloring
White Chocolate Ganache: white chocolate, water
Plate, Box or Bag?
Paper Plate. I gave some of these to friends and neighbors and those were arranged on a paper plate and wrapped in plastic wrap.
Bags. I wrapped most of the cookies individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie. This makes them stackable without causing damage to the decorations and makes it really easy to pack for shipping.
Mailing. When I mailed my Halloween cookies to friends and family this year, I included several leaf cookies, too. I always send them Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office and use sturdy shipping boxes, which protect the yummy treats during the long trip to their “forever homes.” I know the packages are appreciated when they arrive because of the texts I get with all those smiling faces.
What I’ve learned...
These cookies were made with the best ingredients I could find and baked in a small batch of two dozen. I’ve experimented with less expensive ingredients, but have come to the conclusion that flavor is best when I use the best. Why spend all this time baking and decorating if taste and texture are just so-so? Decorating the cookies takes time, but it’s an enjoyable process for me and I know that those who receive them appreciate that. Life is just better when you can share something you love with someone you love. Don’t you agree?
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