Red “Ornaments” — yum!
Throughout the year I love a dash of red here and there to add color to my cookies. But at Christmas time, red isn’t just an accent, it’s often the main attraction. These Brown Butter Red Christmas Ornament Cookies are the epitome of the Christmas holiday cookie...they’re red, they’re beautiful, and they’re yummy. The white and gold sugar crystal accents make each cookie look like a jewel. It’s impossible to ignore them.
“Every Christmas tree needs at least one red ornament.” Kasha
When I was thinking about what cookies to mail to my family and friends this year, the idea of red ornaments kept coming to mind. And one of my nephews has often told me that the Brown Butter Cookies are his favorite of all the cookies I make, so there was little question about what flavor the red ornament cookies would have this year.
Cookie specifics
Brown-Butter Cookies. Made with brown butter, which gives them a deep, rich caramelized flavor, these cookies are unique and delicious. They also include brown sugar which gives them a wonderful, chewy texture.
I used homemade fondant (a mixture of white sculpting chocolate and melted marshmallows), colored red, for the “coat” and embossed each one with an intricate pattern, then decorated them with my favorite thick vanilla glaze to add the white and gold accents and big crystal “puffs.” (See RECIPES below for more about homemade fondant and the vanilla glaze.)
Shapes
Two shapes were used: (1) around ornament and (2) an elongated elegant ornament.
Sizes
The round ornament is about 3 inches wide and the elongated ornament is 2½ inches wide by 3½ inches long.
Cookie Recipe from This Talented Cookie Artist
Brown-Butter Cookies. Original recipe from Sugar Hero. You really should try this one. The flavor is exceptional.
My Family Recipe
The vanilla-bean glaze is one I’ve used for years. It’s a simple combination of confectioners’ sugar, water, vanilla and corn syrup. The corn syrup is what makes the glaze harden so that the cookies are stackable.
Glaze for Piping Recipe
Homemade Fondant
White Sculpting Chocolate mixed with homemade Marshmallow Fondant: This mixture makes for a very yummy coating on cookies. Commercial fondant is a perfect medium for cookie decorating but it tastes terrible so I never use it. Instead, I make my own marshmallow fondant, then mix it 50%/50% with white chocolate to get a delicious substitute. To color the mixture red, I used Wilton’s “No-Taste Red” gel coloring.
Homemade Marshmallow Fondant external link
Cookies
Brown-Butter: flour, brown butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, cornstarch, vanilla, salt
Icing & Decorative Embellishments
Glaze: sugar, water, corn syrup, vanlila paste for flavoring
Sprinkles: Lots of big-crystal white and gold sugar.
White Chocolate Dough: corn syrup plus delicate Guittard white chocolate and red gel color
All the red ornament cookies were packaged for mailing. Here’s how I did it:
Bags. I wrapped cookies individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie. This helps protect the delicate decorative elements from being damaged. I then placed them in an airtight freezer bag to keep them fresh during their journey.
Mailing. I used the sturdy Priority Mail boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap to package them. This year, all the cookies arrived 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 batches 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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