Everything we need to celebrate your birthday
Birthdays are time for celebrations. And that means cookies, as far as I’m concerned. Big-letter cookie cutters say “You’re the main attraction today!” These letters are 4-inches high so they definitely get your attention. And just in case someone isn’t sure what the occasion is, the cupcake cookie and the Happy Birthday plaque will let you know. One of my favorite birthday cookie projects is to create messages to the birthday person using my small 2-inch letter cutters, then mix them all up and pack them in a box with a note challenging them to figure out the message before they eat any of the cookies. It’s a fun way to say “Happy Birthday” to someone special.
“A diplomat is a man who remembers a lady’s birthday but forgets her age.” Robert Frost
The big-letters for the M.E.R.B. birthdays and the cupcake shapes are Soft Sugar Cookies. The little letters for Andrew are the Classic Sugar Cookie recipe. And Josh’s big letters are made from gingerbread. No matter what the recipe is, big letters are perfect for everyone!
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.
Classic Sugar Cookie. This classic sugar cookie brings back memories of the Christmas cookies my mother made during the holidays...with a bold vanilla flavor and slightly soft texture, they make me smile every time I eat one.
Gingerbread. My go-to gingerbread cookie is firm on the edges and soft and chewy in the middle. It has a robust molasses flavor and plenty of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices. I was never a gingerbread lover as a child, but this cookie won me over.
Alphabets & Shapes
four-inch alphabets, 2-inch alphabets, plaques, hearts, balloons, cupcakes
Sizes ranged from 2 inches to 4 inches. The big letters got a lot of attention, while the small letters fit nicely into a box.
“Greetings” & Messages
square, circle, rectangle, triangle, free-form...numerous plaque shapes, plus straight, fluted, and zig-zag edges
Cookie Recipe from This Talented Cookie Artist
Soft Sugar Cookies. Original recipe from The Food Charlatan.
My Family Recipes
Classic Sugar Cookie. A recipe based on one from Mrs. Gregor, a neighbor of my mom’s when she was a newlywed.
Gingerbread. Recipe based on several recipes from family and friends. My goal was to make a cookie full of spices, with slightly crisp edges and soft everywhere else. These are all that!
My Gingerbread Recipe
Cookies
Soft Sugar Cookies: flour, butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, almond extract, pure vanilla extract, salt
Classic Sugar Cookies: flour, butter, granulated sugar, egg, pure vanilla extract, baking powder, salt
Gingerbread: flour, butter, dark brown sugar, molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, baking powder, egg, pure vanilla extract, lemon zest, salt
Icing & Decorative Embellishments
Royal Icing: confectioner’s sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, pure vanilla extract or almond extract, cream of tartar, food coloring
Glaze: sugar, water, corn syrup, food coloring (optional), various extracts for flavoring (vanilla, almond, lemon, raspberry, etc.)
Plate, Box or Bag?
Box. I placed the small letters in a cardboard bakery box with 4 compartments inside. This allowed me to mix up the letters and challenge Andrew to discover the secret message. The box had a clear window on top that made the contents visible so he could peek before opening it up. What was the message? It’s a secret!
I like these 6x6x3" bakery boxes from amazon.com.
Bags. I wrapped the big letters individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie. This made it safe to package the cookies for mailing without causing damage to the decorations.
I like these 4x6" treat bags from amazon.com.
Mailing. The big and small letters were all packaged for mailing. I sent them Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office, using the boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap! Thankfully, they all arrived undamaged. I know the packages were appreciated when they arrived because of the texts I got 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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