I had so much fun decorating Easter sugar cookies a few weeks ago that I decided that it was time to bring out the spring cookie cutters and make a few dozen edible flowers and butterflies. What better way to bring Mother Nature’s exuberance inside than to bake cookies in shapes inspired by her and decorate them to pay homage to her designs.
“Be honest, be nice, be a flower not a weed.” Aaron Neville
It doesn’t really matter if the cookies end up fancy or simple. What matters is that they’re tasty, and that baking, decorating and sharing them brings happiness to you and those you love. There’s a certain magical something about combining a classic recipe with a familiar shape, then dressing it up with some whimsical squiggles and a few well-placed sprinkles. Share the creation with someone special and that, my friend, is love in the form of a cookie.
Cookie specifics
My Classic Sugar Cookie. This classic sugar cookie brings back memories of the holiday cookies my mother made for years...with a bold vanilla flavor and slightly soft texture, they make me smile every time I eat one. A definite plus is that they don’t have to be refrigerated beforehand in order to keep their shape when baking and the recepe makes a ton!
Shapes
butterflies and flowers
Sizes
Sizes range from medium (2½-inch flowers) to medium-large (3½-inch butterflies). 2½ to 3 inches is my favorite size for decorating and eating!
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. I’ve tweaked it over the years to create what I think is the perfect sugar cookie.
Icing & Frostings
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
Royal Icing: For the flowers and some of the embellishments on all the cookies, I used Royal Icing in various colors. Royal icing dries hard, so it gives a nice crunch to the cookies — a lovely texture.
Homemade Fondant and Sculpting Chocolate: I used a combination of homemade fondant and white sculpting chocolate to cover the butterflies. The combination makes for a delicious cookie “coat” that is easy to emboss and creates a delicate appearance.
Cookies
Classic Sugar Cookies: flour, cornstarch, butter, granulated sugar, egg, pure vanilla extract, baking powder, salt
Icing & Decorative Embellishments
Royal Icing: confectioners’ sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, pure vanilla extract or almond extract, cream of tartar, food coloring
Glaze for Piping: sugar, water, corn syrup, food coloring (optional), various extracts for flavoring (vanilla, almond, lemon, raspberry, etc.) (See link to recipe in The Recipes section above.)
Chocolate Dough: corn syrup plus either delicate white chocolate.
Homemade Fondant: sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, gelatin, water, vanilla extract, food coloring (optional)
Plate, Box or Bag?
Bags. Since the cookies were mailed to family and friends, I wrapped them individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie, before putting them in airtight freezer bags. This prevents damage to the decorations during packing. Then I packaged them for mailing (see “Mailing” below).
Mailing. I mailed the cookies to my family and friends by sending them Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office. I used the boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap. I know the packages are appreciated when they arrived, especially since is sheltering right now and any diversion is welcome. I hope their arrival was a welcome surprise.
What I’ve learned...
These cookies were made with the best ingredients I could find. 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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