I started planning Easter cookies right after Valentine’s Day and couldn’t resist this small rabbit cookie cutter and his carrot-shaped companion. They simply had to be part of this year’s Easter Parade of Sugar-y Sweets. As real bunnies are known to do, the cookie version quickly procreated and became more than 100 decorated critters, each holding its own small DOT carrot. Before long, a bunch of little bunny-size carrots joined the parade. Happy Easter!
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” William Shakespeare
You may see those hollow, chocolate rabbits in every grocery store this time of the year. You’ll even find bunny-shaped “peeps,” gummy bears, and peanut butter cups. Add a bag full of these decorated cookies to your Easter basket and you have a little bit of sugar heaven. An Easter bonnet is not required, but highly recommended!
Cookie specifics
Soft Sugar Cookies. This cookie has a subtle hint of almond extract and a chewy, soft texture. They are cut a little thicker than the average cutout cookies, which makes every bite an experience of chewy perfection. This flavor combination seemed like the perfect taste for an Easter cookie. The small DOT Matrix sugar carrots (by Wilton) tucked under each bunny’s arm are made of tiny beads. They added a lovely crunch to the soft cookie. The carrot cookie was decorated with stripes of dark chocolate royal icing.
Shapes
small bunny and carrot shapes
Sizes
Oddly enough, both the bunny and the carrot are 2½ inches high. Imagine a bunny finding a carrot as big as he is! That might be either the best thing that ever happened to him or the scariest. By the way, 2½ to 3 inches is my favorite size for decorating and eating.
Cookie Recipes from These Talented Cookie Artists
Soft Sugar Cookies. Original recipe from The Food Charlatan.
Icing, Frosting, & Embellishments
Glaze for Piping: This glaze/icing dries hard enough that you can stack or package the cookies without damaging the embellishments. I often use it exclusively or in combination with Royal Icing.
Glaze for Piping Recipe
Chocolate Royal Icing: I used this tasty chocolate royal icing to create the bunnies’ eyes and the stripes on the carrot cookies. It’s so much tastier than using black icing.
Embellishment: I couldn’t resist giving each bunny his own small carrot to tuck under his arm. These DOT Matrix Icing Carrots by Wilton are made of many tiny beads and add a lovely crunch to the soft cookie. (See the “Description” section for a link to Wilton’s website.)
Cookies
Soft Sugar Cookies: flour, butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, almond extract, pure vanilla extract, salt
Icing & Decorative Embellishments
Glaze for Piping: sugar, water, corn syrup, food coloring (optional), various extracts for flavoring (vanilla, almond, lemon, raspberry, etc.)
Chocolate Royal Icing: confectioners’ sugar, Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa, meringue powder, corn syrup, almond extract, food coloring
Dot Matrix Carrots: sugar, egg white solids, distilled vinegar, sodium benzoate (preservative), food coloring
Plate, Box or Bag?
Paper Plate. The cookies I gave to my neighbors were arranged on a sturdy Chinet paper plate, wrapped in clear plastic wrap, and tied with a pink & green ribbon. This is the safest way to get them from my house to my neighbors’ houses.
Box. Some of the cookies were given to my parish priests and they were arranged to fit into a cardboard bakery box with a clear window on top, which makes the contents visible to anyone who wants to peek. Since these cookies were all fairly small, I was able to get 2 dozen into each box.
Mailing. Of course, I mailed dozens to my family and friends throughout the U.S. I always send cookies Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office. I use the boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap. In almost all cases, the cookies arrive undamaged. 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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